"Suicidal thoughts stole his smile" - Ex-Utah HC Blake Anderson pens down heartbreaking message for late son as mental health alert
Former Utah State Aggies coach Blake Anderson was fired by the institution in July before the start of the 2024 college football season. However, he has been through much worse in his personal life.
Anderson suffered the loss of his wife, Wendy Anderson, to breast cancer in 2019, and his son, Cason Anderson, to suicide in 2022.
On Thursday, Anderson posted a heartbreaking message on Instagram, remembering his late son and encouraging anyone with mental health issues to reach out to professionals, even providing a number to call.
"💚MENTAL HEALTH ALERT💚 Cason Anderson SHOULD have celebrated his 24th birthday today, but depression & suicide stole his smile & laugh from us just 2 years ago… now we are left with photos, memories, and the weight of grief. DO NOT stay silent or carry it alone. DIAL 988 NOW," Blake Anderson wrote.
Why Blake Anderson was fired by Utah State
Blake Anderson was fired by the Utah State Aggies on July 19, 2024, due to his handling of a complaint of sexual misconduct against one of his players. The Aggies fired him after an internal investigation found that he was non-compliant in following the institution's Title IX policies and rules.
The investigation by the university began in 2023 after a football player's girlfriend and roommate made the accusation of sexual and domestic violence against the player. Blake Anderson contacted the victim against existing protocols.
In August, Anderson, represented by the law firm, Bearnson & Caldwell, confirmed his intention to sue the Aggies for wrongful termination in a statement made available to ESPN.
"(Utah State administration) including ... Athletic Director Diane Sabau have unfortunately chosen to level what is essentially a public smear campaign not only against Coach Anderson and others but also against USU itself," the statement read. "The public arena is typically not the preferred place for these types of disputes to be aired.
"But given the amount of misinformation that has been publicly stated and released by USU, and more particularly Ms. Sabau, Coach Anderson herein states publicly and with certainty that he completely denies having engaged in any wrongdoing, and looks forward to the truth and details underlying that truth being revealed through the appropriate process – in a court of law before a selected jury of his peers."
Blake Anderson joined the Aggies in 2020 after a stint as the coach of the Arkansas State Red Wolves between 2014 and 2020. He led the Aggies to an 11-3 season and a Mountain West Conference championship before subsequent consecutive 6-7 seasons.