JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – Arkansas State head football coach Blake Anderson is leaving the Red Wolves for a heading coaching job out west.
KAIT TV in Jonesboro reports multiple sources have confirmed to Region 8 News Sports Director Chris Hudgison that Anderson has accepted the job at Utah State as their new head football coach.
The details of his departure and the financial ramifications have not yet been released.
A team meeting has been called for 2:30 p.m. with a press conference scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Aggies are an FBS program in the Mountain West Conference. That league also features former A-State head coach Bryan Harsin, he’s the head coach at Boise State.
Anderson has 51 wins in 7 years with the Red Wolves, tied for the 3rd most in program history. 2020 marked his first losing season. Arkansas State is currently 4-7.
Before this year’s setback, Anderson guided the Red Wolves to 6 straight bowl games.
He captured Sun Belt championships in 2014 & 2015.
Anderson has been a candidate for other jobs in the past, interviewing for the Missouri vacancy in 2019 and the Baylor opening in 2016.
While Arkansas State was used to the coaching carousel a few years ago, they haven’t had to replace a head coach for seven years.
Before Anderson it was:
2010 – Steve Roberts
2011 – Hugh Freeze
2012 – Gus Malzahn
2013 – Bryan Harsin
2014 – Blake Anderson
The rumor-mill for a replacement has already started as well with names like;
Rhett Lashlee
Walt Bell
Kane Wommack
Kendall Briles
Brian Johnson
Anderson, a 19-year coaching veteran at the NCAA-FBS level who also coached in an NJCAA-National Championship game, was named the Red Wolves 30th all-time head football coach on Dec. 19, 2013.
Out of 30 all-time head coaches, Anderson became just the fourth to win at least seven games in his first season at A-State.
He is the first head coach in A-State history to win at least 47 games during his first six seasons at the school. Additionally, Anderson is just the third head coach at A-State to direct the program to 47 wins in 76 or fewer games.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI