Back in Blue: Andersen makes return to Logan for second stint as Aggie head coach
Former Utah State football head coach Gary Andersen is returning to Logan. On Sunday morning, the USU Athletics Department announced the hiring of the former Aggie head coach to replace the recently-departed Matt Wells.
After a 10-day national search which involved the hiring of a search firm, the Aggies have agreed to terms to put Andersen, who coached Utah State from 2009-2012 before departing to accept the head coaching position for Wisconsin, back on the USU sidelines.
“Stacey and I are thrilled to be back at Utah State University,” Andersen said. “This is a special place and we are excited to meet these young men and play a part in seeing them succeed off and on the field academically, socially and athletically. We are grateful to reconnect with many great friends and supporters in Logan and want to thank (athletics director) John Hartwell and President (Noelle) Cockett for the opportunity. Go Aggies!”
During his time at Utah State, Andersen guided the Aggies from a 4-8 record in his first season to an 11-2 record and Western Athletics Conference championship in 2012. The Aggies also achieved a No. 16 final AP Poll ranking in Andersen’s final year at the helm.
At Wisconsin, Andersen guided the Badgers to a 9-4 record in 2013, and a 11-3 record and divisional championship in 2014.
Andersen then departed Madison, Wisc. for Corvallis, Ore. to take over the program at Oregon State. There, the Beavers struggled to a 7-23 record during Andersen’s two-and-a-half year tenure. Mid-way through the 2017 season, Andersen resigned as head coach at OSU and took a job as an associate head coach/defensive line coach at Utah.
This will mark the first time in program history that a head coach has departed from, then returned to Utah State.
“We welcome Gary and Stacey and their family back to the Utah State family,” Hartwell said. “His care-factor for his players, coupled with his recruiting philosophy and plan to win, are keys to the continued success of Aggie football. His knowledge of the state of Utah and our program are unparalleled and we feel those attributes will greatly aid in the continued growth and success of Aggie football.”
Andersen’s first major responsibility will to be to assemble a new coaching staff. Wells, who was hired by Texas Tech on Nov. 29, has taken USU offensive coordinator David Yost and defensive coordinator Keith Patterson with him, and is expected to hire several other Aggie assistants to his new staff as well.
An introductory press conference for Andersen will be held Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. on the third floor of the West Stadium Center at Maverik Stadium. The event will be open to the public.
As the Aggies prepare for their Dec. 15 Gildan New Mexico Bowl matchup with North Texas, interim head coach Frank Maile will continue to lead bowl preparations as well as assume head coaching duties for the game.
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