September 30, 2023; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Utah Aggies head coach Blake Anderson seems on from the sideline as they watch Rentschler at Pratt & Whitney Stadium recreation in opposition to the UConn Huskies at Rentschler Discipline. Necessary Credit score: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports activities Utah State introduced Thursday that it has formally fired soccer coach Blake Anderson, two weeks after notifying him of the varsity’s intention to terminate his contract.
In a press release launched Thursday, Utah State stated:
“This motion is predicated on his materials breach of contractual obligations associated to USU worker reporting necessities. These reporting necessities embody prohibiting staff outdoors the USU Fairness Workplace from investigating sexual misconduct points, together with home violence. Moreover, Anderson didn’t handle the crew in a fashion that A approach that displays USU’s educational values.
Anderson did reply to the allegations inside 14 days of being notified, with a 70-page response filed by Anderson and his lawyer, Tom Maas.
“Coach Anderson’s authorized crew believes this choice, together with USU’s deliberately inflammatory press launch on July 2, violates the phrases of Coach Anderson’s employment settlement and the implied covenant of fine religion,” Maas stated in a press release. We are going to pursue all accessible authorized cures on his behalf.”
In its preliminary notification two weeks in the past, the varsity cited “actions (Anderson) took within the spring of 2023.” The varsity additionally fired affiliate athletic director Jerry Bovee and director of participant growth and group Austin Albrecht as interim AD by 2023, the varsity introduced in its preliminary assertion. They’re a part of the identical investigation.
“The Athletic” reported on Thursday that the investigation was motivated by a home violence incident in April 2023.
Defensive coordinator Nate Drelin will function the Aggies’ interim coach this season.
Anderson, 55, is coming into his fourth season at Utah State. He compiled a 23-17 document, together with a 6-7 document in 2023 for the second straight season.
In 2021, the Aggies went 11-3 of their first season as a Mountain West program and gained the Los Angeles Bowl, ending No. 24 within the Related Press High 25 rankings.
Anderson has a 74-54 total document, together with seven seasons at Arkansas State from 2014-20.
Utah State will face Robert Morris within the season opener on Aug. 31.
–Scene-level media
