Gary Andersen to Wisconsin
After turning the Utah State football program around, head coach Gary Andersen is headed to the University of Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin State Journal reported and sources confirmed Tuesday that Andersen will accept the head coaching spot for the Badgers, replacing Bret Bielema after he left to become head coach at Arkansas.
The news came as a shock to Utah State fans everywhere after Andersen said in a Nov. 30 press conference that he was staying put in Logan, but multiple news outlets have reported sources close to the situation said the move is a done deal.
Attempts to contact USU Athletic Media Relations were unsuccessful.
Andersen turned down offers from the University of Colorado and California earlier this month.
Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez got a first-hand look at Andersen and his squad earlier this season after the Aggies went into Camp Randall Stadium, jumped out to a 14-3 lead and missed a field goal as time expired, allowing the Badgers to escape with a 16-14 win.
Andersen compiled a 26-24 record at Utah State in four seasons at the helm, including an 11-2 record this season while guiding the Aggies to their second bowl win in school history. It’s the second school in which Andersen has been head coach, as he held the position in 2003 at Southern Utah.
Prior to his job at SUU, Andersen served as an assistant at Utah from 1997-2002 and again from 2004-2008, including the role of defensive coordinator from 2005-2008 for the Utes. A Salt Lake City native, Andersen will face former colleague and friend Urban Meyer – currently coach at Ohio State in the same division of the Big 10 conference – under whom Andersen worked during his tenure at Utah.
–curtis.lundstrom@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @CurtisLundstrom