REPORT: Utah State moving on from former Wisconsin HC Gary Andersen

Saturday morning, Dan Wolken of USA TODAY reported that the Utah States Aggies are moving on from head coach Gary Andersen. Andersen was…

Saturday morning, Dan Wolken of USA TODAY reported that the Utah States Aggies are moving on from head coach Gary Andersen.

Andersen was the head coach for Wisconsin for two seasons in 2013 and 2014 and led the team to a 19-6 regular-season record. He is most well known among Badger fans for leaving Wisconsin four days after their 59-0 loss to Ohio State in the 2014 Big Ten Championship game.

Nov 22, 2014; Iowa City, IA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Gary Andersen talks to linebacker Vince Biegel (47) during a timeout against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

The Badgers then chose to play the 2014 Rose Bowl with Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez as interim head coach. Andersen cited family reasons and frustration with Wisconsin’s high admission standards for his early exit and move to Oregon State.

Andersen coached for two and a half seasons with the Oregon State Beavers as their head coach but was fired midseason of 2017. He then coached for Utah State as an assistant head coach for the 2018 season before being named the head coach at the end year.

Oct 5, 2019; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Utah State Aggies head coach Gary Andersen looks on during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

In Andersen’s first season as head coach in 2019, the Aggies finished 7-6 overall and third in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference. Utah State started this season at a disappointing 0-3 and has chosen to part ways with Gary Andersen because of it.

Gary Andersen has had a difficult time finding a home as an FBS head coach since he left Wisconsin, and it will be interesting to see where he goes after his second firing in four seasons.