Blake Anderson firing details: Latest reports on Utah State HC's dismissal over domestic violence investigation
Utah State University has severed ties with head coach Blake Anderson. The termination follows an internal investigation into Anderson's handling of a domestic violence arrest involving a player on the team.
According to ESPN, upon learning of the player's arrest, Anderson initiated an independent investigation and did not first report the incident to the university itself. Anderson is said to have directly contacted the player's girlfriend, the alleged victim, in an attempt to gather facts about the incident.
The established procedures of the university require university personnel to report such incidents. This allows trained professionals to handle the investigation and ensure victim safety. However, Anderson didn't follow the protocol and opened a personal investigation.
A signed letter from Utah's athletic director, Diana Sabau, and university president, Elizabeth Cantwell, reads as follows (via ESPN):
"Most egregiously, you engaged in investigative efforts regarding the domestic violence arrest, including meeting with and collecting written statements from the potential victim and another witness. You undertook these actions following an arrest and while a criminal investigation was ongoing."
Anderson's decision to conduct his own inquiry was considered a critical breach of protocol by the university and resulted in his termination.
Blake Anderson set to pursue "all available legal remedies" after Utah dismissal
Blake Anderson's attorney, Tom Mars, contests the university's decision, saying Anderson merely sought information to determine if a report was required. Mars told ESPN:
"He couldn't have been 'investigating a domestic assault' he had no knowledge of until the teammate told him what had happened. He immediately called the interim AD [Jeremy Bovee]."
ESPN also referenced a 70-page document from Anderson in response to Utah's "sham investigation." Part of this reads:
"(Anderson) spent just over a day attempting to find out what his player was arrested for and why to determine whether any report was required. The evidence shows beyond question that Coach Anderson satisfied the requirements of all USU policies -- including the inapplicable ones which USU mistakenly relied on in terminating his employment."
On Saturday, Tom Mars took to X to share a statement from Mars Law firm on the situation. The content of the tweet suggests Blake Anderson may take legal action:
"Coach Anderson’s legal team believes this decision — as well as USU’s deliberately inflammatory July 2nd press release — violate the terms of Coach Anderson’s Employment Agreement and the implied covenant of good faith. We will be pursuing all available legal remedies on his behalf. Coach Anderson will be issuing his own statement at the appropriate time.”
With the situation still unfolding, the college football world has been debating the circumstances of Blake Anderson's firing. This will be something to keep an eye on in the coming months as more information potentially comes to light.