USU football: Andersen is the Aggies' new guy
Gary Andersen, the longtime assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Utah, will be introduced as Utah State's next head football coach today at 1 p.m. after coming to an agreement on contract details Wednesday afternoon in Logan.
The announcement comes less than three weeks after USU fired Brent Guy as a result of winning only nine games in four seasons.
Andersen will inherit an Aggie program mired in decades of failure with only brief glimpses at success. But a new athletic director and an increased commitment to do the little things such as actually funding the football team like a Division I program convinced Andersen he could be successful in Logan.
After meeting with USU athletic director Scott Barnes for several hours in Logan on Tuesday, Andersen made a second trip to Cache Valley on Wednesday this time with his wife accompanying him to iron out details of the contract.
The source said Andersen will receive a compensation package that will exceed Guy's by more than $100,000. The assistant coaches, likewise, will also have a boost in pay from previous USU coaching staffs.On Tuesday, Barnes said in order to improve the football program, it needed a significantly increased budget for recruiting and to attract and pay quality assistant coaches. With those concerns addressed, Andersen felt comfortable agreeing to coach the Aggies.
Despite finishing with a 3-9 record this season matching the best season of the Guy era the Aggies might appear to be "mission impossible" for a football coach. But many observers and WAC coaches believe the foundation has been laid for a much brighter future at Utah State.
With a new training and locker room facility in place, and more money to fund the program, that may very well be the case.
Andersen is seen as a recruiting whiz, helping the Utes land many of the top players in the state and region. Aggie fans, undoubtedly, will be hopeful he can bring some of that talent to Logan and help take USU to a bowl game in the next season or two.
Recent comments
Played for anderson at SUU probably the best coach i have been around...
former player | Dec. 7, 2008 at 12:41 a.m.
What were you thinking USU?
Andersen might have been lucky in the...
Should've been Baer | Dec. 6, 2008 at 8:39 a.m.
Utah fans are so clueless about football history it's sad.
BYU...
Re: View from the top | 9:57 p.m | Dec. 5, 2008 at 12:07 p.m.
- Yardsmart: Flowers honor veterans 6:26 p.m.
- Lining up for 'Modern Warfare 2' 6:22 p.m.
- Ronnie Wood divorced over adultery 6:21 p.m.
- Warhol's MJ portrait sells for $812K 6:17 p.m.
- MacIntyre wins literature award 6:16 p.m.
- PETA targets U. laboratories 6:15 p.m.
- School Veterans Day may be cut 6:11 p.m.
- Fishing the jungles of India 6:10 p.m.
- What others say about the Utes 6:02 p.m.
- Celebrate fall foods with family meals 5:59 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- Civilians help S.L. officer make arrest
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- House passes health care bill
274 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
233 - TCU showdown has big implications
192 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
108 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
99
Utah State hoops coach Stew Morrill took a few minutes to talk about Weber
Sounds like Lou was finally run out of town. Who is left on CNN to watch?...
John P - thanks for your comments; have to agree with what you said at the...
Well said, Amy! But this is the theocracy of Utah, where separation of...
I am in agreement with Defeatist are losers above. BYU's non-fans that read...
Hal i feel fortunate to have had the oppertunity to meet you recently.It has...
These were really sophisticated ponzi schemes with a book on a new way of...
It's good to see Boylen reach for some real talent, unlike the team down...
You are exactly right. The problem is that the sinners want to redefine...
Editor, that opening sentence is one of the most awkward I have ever read. ...
Hunter champs in 03, Davis 04, bingham 06, Alta 07, 08. Shoul of all these...

