Gary Andersen’s second stint at Utah State has come to an end, just 16 games after being rehired.
In Andersen’s first stint with Utah State, he had a good year in 2012 where they won the WAC. Andersen parlayed that 2012 year and left for Wisconsin where he went 19-7 (0-1 in bowl games) in two seasons with the Badgers. Andersen was frustrated with the academic standards in Madison so he bailed before the 2014 bowl game and took the Oregon State job. It was a disastrous decision to take the Oregon State job as he went 7-23 in Corvallis before quitting half way through his third season.
The Utah State boosters wanted to bring back Andersen, so they made that happen in 2019 after Matt Wells left. The Aggies went 7-6 with a Frisco Bowl loss to Kent State in 2019.
In 2020, through three games the Aggies are last in the Mountain West in total offense and second to last in total defense. They’re 0-3 and have lost by an average of 28.3 points per game.
Andersen’s departure from Utah State appears to be keeping with the last six years of his coaching career.
He quit in Wisconsin for Oregon State in 2014 before the bowl game, less than two full years into his contract. He had to pay Wisconsin $3 Million for doing so.
He then left $12 million on his contract at Oregon State after he resigned in October 2017. He had signed a contract extension the previous December.
It’s good to see a school quit on Gary Andersen before he can quit on them.
Andersen will leave Logan, Utah with a combined 33-33 record in two stints at Utah State and with a 63-76 career record.
Maybe you should let the Athletic Director hire coaches, not a booster or president.
Gary Andersen is the same guy that called out his players last month who had covid concerns.
“At least in our program, we don’t have an opt out. And it’s not an option. If you opt out, you’re not with us.”
Meanwhile, his entire coaching career has been an opt-out.
Nick Obot 