Hartwell resigns as athletics director per reports
LOGAN — John Hartwell, Utah State University’s Athletics Director, has announced his resignation after seven-and-a-half years, per multiple sources.
Hartwell confirmed he was leaving in a press release Tuesday afternoon.
“As I leave Utah State, I want you to know I have the highest regard for the student athletes, coaches, staff, student body, the Cache Valley community, and all of Aggie Nation,” Hartwell said. “There is an Aggie team spirit that permeates every part of Logan. It’s unlike any place I’ve seen. After 25 years in the business, my wife and I have agreed that our family, including Heather’s aging parents in Arkansas, need to be our number one priority. We need to be there for them and for our beautiful daughters. This is the time. So, we leave with wonderful memories and hearts of gratitude. Until we meet again, Thank You all. Thank you for this remarkable chapter of our lives. Thank you for all of the unforgettable experiences. And Go Aggies!”
Hartwell’s resignation comes at a tough time for USU as the university and head football coach Blake Anderson are facing a lawsuit from former Utah State football player Patrick Maddox.
USU President Noelle Cockett said the university has built “a positive and supportive culture throughout the university, including within USU Athletics,” in a press release on Tuesday.
“This change in leadership will continue the momentum we have already built,” Cockett said.
According to the press release, Cockett said the university will announce an interim athletics director soon and launch a national search for a replacement.
“In this search, we will be looking for an experienced leader who believes in collaboration with university leadership to advance the mission and vision of the institution through athletics and will continue to actively engage in USU’s work to improve the campus culture,” Cockett said.
Under Hartwell’s leadership, Utah State achieved two Mountain West Conference Championships in men’s basketball in 2020 and 2021. The Aggies also won the conference title in football in 2021. Additionally, USU Gymnastics won a Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference Championship in 2022.
Utah State programs have also found regular-season success under Hartwell with seven regular-season championships for the Aggies during his tenure.
Hartwell hired the current coaches that have brought USU recent success including Blake Anderson, Rob Neilson and Manny Martins. Hartwell also hired former USU men’s basketball coach Craig Smith, who won back-to-back men’s basketball conference championships in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, six USU coaches were named conference coach of the year under Hartwell.
Beyond coaching hires and success on the field, Hartwell focused on revamping USU fundraising and revenue streams during his tenure.
He rebranded Utah State Athletic’s fundraising program to Aggies Unlimited. He has also planned future renovations for Maverik Stadium and the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum and announced plans for a new indoor practice facility, per USU Athletics.
Before USU, Hartwell served as Athletic Director at Troy University for three years and Senior Executive Associate Athletics Director at the University of Mississippi for nine years.
Aggie fans initially woke up to the news on Twitter. Pete Thamel and Brett McMurphy were among the first to report it.
Spoke to Utah State AD John Hartwell. He said he resigned from Utah State last night to move his family back to the South. “We had a great run at Utah State,” he told ESPN. “It’s time to make sure my family comes first.”
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 1, 2022
John Hartwell told @ActionNetworkHQ he resigned as Utah State's AD for family reasons. "We're moving closer to my wife's family in Arkansas. We're good. It's time to put our family first. We had a great run at Utah State. We appreciate our time there"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 1, 2022
This story will be updated with new developments.
Featured image from a 2021 press conference announcing Ryan Odom as head coach of USU Men’s Basketball.