Gary Anderson USU parting ways

[a1247]

I know its not BYU news but seriously wtf is going on up in Logan. Their expectations can't be that high can they?

[Fido]

They are hugely disappointed. He came in after a 10-2 season and went 7-6 and then 0-3 so far.

Their fan board is clamoring for a Jay Hill hire. No word yet on the interim coach or an eventual replacement (of course--too soon).

[BroncoBot]

Things could get ugly for USU...

[Fido]

So Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Frank Maile is the interim coach. USU announced they will run a national search for a replacement.

This is who KSL.com claims could be candidates:

Jay Hill - Head Coach, Weber State
Ties to Utah State: Played cornerback at Utah from 1998-99, coached college football in the state of Utah since 2001

Hugh Freeze - Head Coach, Liberty University
Ties to Utah State: None

Rich Rodriguez - Former Head Coach, Arizona
Ties to Utah State: None

Jeff Grimes - Offensive Coordinator, BYU
Ties to Utah State: Coached college football in the state of Utah for six seasons

Ed Lamb - Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator, BYU
Ties to Utah State: Played defensive end at BYU from 1994-96, coached college football in the state of Utah for 14 seasons

Robert Anae, Offensive Coordinator, Virginia
Ties to Utah State: play offensive line at BYU from 1981-84, coached college football in the state of Utah for 11 seasons

Morgan Scalley - Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach, Utah
Ties to Utah State: Played defensive back at Utah from 2001-04, coached college football in the state of Utah since 2007

Frank Maile - Interim Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator, Utah State
Ties to Utah State: Played defensive line at Utah State from 2004-07, coached at Utah State for 10 seasons

Rocky Long, Defensive Coordinator, New Mexico
Ties to Utah State: Born in Provo, Utah, served as head coach in Mountain West Conference for 20 seasons

Kelly Poppinga, Linebackers Coach, Virginia
Ties to Utah State: Played linebacker at Utah State from 2003-04 and at BYU from 2005-07, coached at BYU from 2009-15

Jim Harding, Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach, Utah
Ties to Utah State: Coached at Utah since 2014

David Yost, Offensive Coordinator, Texas Tech
Ties to Utah State: Served as Utah State’s Offensive Coordinator from 2017-18

The Athletic also reportedly mentions Aaron Roderick as a candidate but it is behind a paywall so I won't link it.

[Fido]

I'm not sure some of these are realistic. Rocky Long? He is 70 years old and left a HC job to be DC at New Mexico so he wouldn't have the grind of a head coaching job. Hugh Freeze? Just because?

The only ones on the list who actually have a tie to Utah State is Frank Maile, Kelly Poppinga, and David Yost. But is the USU job good enough to pull Poppinga or Yost out of their P5 schools?

[a1247]

Jay Hill makes the most sense. Up and comer who has done great things at Weber State and Weber State isn't playing right now so its an easy hire.

[EM_Puma]

Jay Hill makes the most sense. Up and comer who has done great things at Weber State and Weber State isn't playing right now so its an easy hire.

I would think he's the front runner.

I'm shocked they gave up this fast on Gary Anderson. The guy really climbed the ladder of fame and fell off the other side.

[frdbtr]

I think Gary has lost the fire. His coaching after leaving Utah State has been lackluster at best.

[Fido]

Utah State partly made the move to fire Gary Anderson because of BYU?

Story is from the Deseret News: https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/11/ ... s-football

[snoscythe]

I'd be fine if they took Grimes.