LOGAN — Just over two weeks after placing its football head coach on administrative leave, Utah State has announced it has terminated the contract of Blake Anderson, ending his three-year tenure with the Aggies.
Utah State originally posted a statement on July 2, which announced Anderson was being placed on administrative leave pending termination. Anderson was given 14 days to respond, which he did so with a 70-page response submitted on Monday, July 15. Tonight, USU updated the initial statement on its website with a short explanation and comment on its final decision to fire Anderson.
“This action is based on significant violations of his contractual obligations related to USU’s employee reporting requirements,” the statement reads. “These reporting requirements include a prohibition on employees outside the USU Office of Equity from investigating issues of sexual misconduct, including domestic violence. Additionally, Anderson failed to manage the team in a manner that reflects USU’s academic values. Consistent with Anderson’s employment agreement, the university provided him with written notice of its intent to terminate and 14 days to respond. To USU’s disappointment, Anderson’s response failed to acknowledge his responsibilities as a USU employee and as a head coach and instead sought to make excuses and unsuccessfully recast the clear language of USU’s policies.”
Utah State football head coach Blake Anderson, Deputy AD Jerry Bovee to be terminated from positions
The updated section of the statement concludes with a quote from USU President Elizabeth Cantwell.
“While I recognize that today’s decision has a significant impact, it is the only one that could be made based on the facts. We are committed to moving forward in building a winning Athletics program grounded in student success and integrity.”
Anderson’s legal representation, Tom Mars, released a brief statement this evening in response to USU’s decision.
“We were disappointed to learn this evening that Utah State University has terminated the employment of head football coach Blake Anderson. Coach Anderson’s legal team believes this decision – as well as USU’s deliberately inflammatory July 2 press release – violate the terms of Coach Anderson’s Employment Agreement and the implied covenant of good faith. We will be pursing all available legal remedies on his behalf.”
