USU Football names new coach
Utah State head coach Gary Andersen will no longer coordinate the defense.
Andersen named Dave Aranda as the new defensive coordinator Jan. 17.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to be able to coach with coach Andersen and his staff,” Aranda said. “I believe (Utah State) is an up-and-coming program that I’m proud and very happy to be a part of it.”
Aranda comes to Utah State from Greg McMackin’s staff at Hawaii. The Warriors finished the 2011 season 6-7 and had three seniors on Aranda’s defense invited to various senior all-star games, Andersen said.
“We were looking for a talented coach with defensive coordinator experience, and we have found that with Dave Aranda,” Andersen said in a USU athletics press release. “Dave’s defenses speak for themselves with the numbers and talented players they have. His defenses consistently play hard and at an extremely high level.”
At Hawaii, Aranda coached the last two years as defensive coordinator after two seasons as the defensive line coach.
“Coach Aranda’s defenses are fundamentally sound and are excellent technicians,” Andersen said. “We are excited to have him and his family be a part of our Aggie football family.”
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu