Utah State University Moves to Terminate Blake Anderson’s Employment
Utah State University (USU) has decided to move forward with terminating Blake Anderson’s employment agreement, citing significant violations of contractual obligations. The decision follows an external review that uncovered breaches of USU’s policies regarding the reporting of sexual misconduct and domestic violence.
On Thursday, USU notified Anderson of the termination, which was based on his failure to comply with the university’s employee reporting requirements. These rules mandate that employees, outside of the USU Office of Equity, do not investigate issues of sexual misconduct themselves. Additionally, Anderson was found to have failed to manage his team in alignment with USU’s academic values.
President Elizabeth Cantwell stated, “While I recognize that today’s decision has a significant impact, it is the only one that could be made based on the facts. We are committed to moving forward in building a winning Athletics program grounded in student success and integrity.”
In response to the termination notice, Anderson had 14 days to contest the decision. USU expressed disappointment with his response, which they felt did not adequately address his responsibilities or acknowledge the clarity of USU’s policies.
Additional Update (July 19, 2024)
On July 19, USU released further details on the university’s policies involved in the decision. USU Policy 340 requires employees to report any sexual misconduct involving students, as per USU Policy 339 (Title IX jurisdiction) and USU Policy 339A (non-Title IX jurisdiction). These policies aim to ensure thorough reporting and prevent unauthorized investigations into such matters. Employees receive mandatory annual training to understand these obligations.
Original Story (Published July 2, 2024)
The decision to terminate Blake Anderson came after a comprehensive external review found that Anderson had violated university policies related to Title IX, specifically regarding the reporting and handling of sexual misconduct and domestic violence. This review also led to the dismissal of Associate Vice President & Deputy Athletic Director of External Affairs Jerry Bovee and Football Director of Player Development & Community Austin Albrecht for similar violations.
In a meeting with the football program, Vice President & Director of Athletics Diana Sabau announced that Defensive Coordinator Nate Dreiling would serve as interim head coach for the 2024 season. President Cantwell and Sabau emphasized the importance of upholding university values and ensuring a respectful and transparent culture.
USU has stressed its commitment to taking necessary actions to maintain integrity within its athletics programs and uphold the values of the university community.
