Gary Andersen to be next coach at Utah State

The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that Utah defensive coordinator is taking over the head coaching job at Utah State. A contract has yet to be signed, but a press conference is expected to take place Thursday.

It is unkown at this time if Andersen will stay with the Utes and coach the team in their BCS bowl. In 2004 Urban Meyer stayed and coached the team, even though Kyle Whittingham was technically the head coach. Also, in 2004 the Utah offensive coordinator MIke Sanford left to get started on the UNLV head coaching job.

Andersen is likely to take wide receivers coach Aaron Roderick as his offensive coordinator, a position Roderick held when Andersen was SUU’s head coach in 2003. There is a possibility Andersen could take inside linebackers coach Kalani Sitake as his defensive coordinator as well. If Sitake doesn’t follow Andersen to Utah State he would be a logical candidate to be Utah’s next defensive coordinator.

Gary Andersen is Utah State’s number one choice, SDSU hires firm to help in search

The Deseret News is reporting that negotiations have begun to hammer out details of a contract offer with the current Utah defensive coordinator. This by no means that Andersen is gone, because the Aggies are merely putting together an offer to Andersen. At, the University of Utah they will be looking to upgrade his current contract if Andersen is offered any job, even beyond the Utah State coaching job.

Andersen has also been contacted by fellow Mountain West schools, San Diego State and New Mexico.

Speaking of San Diego State they have hired Parker Executive Search of Atlanta to assist its hunt for a new head football coach.

SDSU officials have not responded to requests for the name and fee of the search firm they are using. But sources said it’s Parker, whose fee for coaching searches in the past have ranged from $50,000 to $90,000.

Former San Diego State star Marshall Faulk also has been retained by the school to assist in the search.

Utah Defensive Coordinator Gary Andersen interviews for the Utah State open job, again

Utah defensive coordinator, Gary Andersen was in Logan today to have his second interview with the vacant Utah State job. There looks to be one other finalist, at leas publically mentioned, is former Utah State player and current University of South Florida passing game coordinator Michael “Chico” Canales.

The question is wheter Utah State wants to go after another defensive coach, since former coach Brent Guy was a defensive coordinator prior to taking the Aggie job. Anderesen is known for his recruiting and being able to bring players in Salt Lake and Logan, Utah will be a much tougher since it is isolated and about two hours from Salt Lake City,

Andersen also knows how to recruit the Utah players, where a lot of the players are of the Mormon faith abd some of those athletes go on two year missions. Andersen has experience with those types of players and understands their positions.

Most people say that you should take your first head coaching job, but the Utah State job is not good, and routinely finishes in the bottom of the WAC each year. A decision should be looming soon.

A side note that may worry Utah fans is that say Andersen takes the Utah State job, or any other, and then Kyle Whittingham leaves at the end of the year the front runner would be…. current offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig.

99 percent of Utah fans would hate that choice, and most would assume that athletice director Dr. Chris Hill would perform a search rather then promote withn.

Andersen’s coaching experience
2004-current - Utah - Defensive coordinator, assistant head coach, defensive line coach
2003 - SUU - Head coach
1997-2002 - Utah - Started as defensive tackle and strong side ends coach, promoted to assistant head coach in 2001 while also coaching defensive tackles, strong side ends and serving as special teams coordinator
1995-96 - Northern Arizona - Assistant head coach, defensive line and special teams
1992-94 - Idaho State - Defensive line
1989-92 - Ricks College - Offensive line
1988 - Southeastern Louisiana - Assistant head coach, offensive coordinator