Gary Andersen to be next coach at Utah State

The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that the Utah defensive coordinator is taking over the head coaching job at Utah State.  A contract has yet to be signed, but a press conference is expected to take place Thursday.

It is unknown at this time if Andersen will stay with the Utes and coach the team in their BCS bowl.  

In 2004, Urban Meyer stayed and coached the team, even though Kyle Whittingham was technically the head coach.  Also, in 2004, the Utah offensive coordinator MIke Sanford left to get started on the UNLV head coaching job.

Andersen is likely to take wide receivers coach Aaron Roderick as his offensive coordinator, a position Roderick held when Andersen was SUU’s head coach in 2003. 

There is a possibility Andersen could take inside linebackers coach Kalani Sitake as his defensive coordinator as well.  If Sitake doesn’t follow Andersen to Utah State he would be a logical candidate to be Utah’s next defensive coordinator.