Gary Andersen Position: Head Coach Experience: 3rd Year at USU Alma Mater: Utah, 1986

Gary Andersen is entering his third season as Utah State head football coach, after being named to the role on on Dec. 4, 2008 by USU Athletics Director Scott Barnes. Andersen is the 26th head coach in 115 years of Aggie football.

In 2011, Andersen will be taking over the defensive coordinator duties as well. Andersen will also be on the 2011 USA Today Coaches' Poll voting committee, marking the second time in three years that Andersen has been a voter, also doing so in 2009.

In his first season at the helm of the USU program in 2009, Andersen led the Aggies to a 4-8 mark, USU's most wins since 2002. The Aggies finished 3-5 in Western Athletic Conference action, matching the 2008 season for USU's top conference record in its five seasons in the league.

The 2009 USU offense amassed a school-record 5,272 yards of total offense. Aggie quarterback Diondre Borel also set a USU individual record for total offense with 3,343 yards in 2009, along with the school record for fewest interceptions thrown with four. Additionally, running back Robert Turbin earned second-team all-WAC honors with a school-record single-season 18 total TD's and 110 total points. Turbin amassed 1,296 rushing yards to become the first Aggie running back to reach the 1,000-yard plateau since 2001.

Defensive highlights from 2009 included first-team all-WAC linebacker Bobby Wagner, who led the league and ranked tied for 22nd in Football Bowl Subdivision in tackles with 115, a 9.6 per game average. Wagner also led the league in WAC only games with 71 stops (8.9 pg). Wagner's 115 tackles ranks as the second-most by a USU sophomore, behind the record of 138 in 1996 by Johndale Carty. Wagner was the first sophomore to lead the Aggies in tackles since David Gill's 89 stops led the 1994 USU squad.

In 2010, Andersen's Aggies again went 4-8, leading USU to its first back-to-back seasons with at least four wins since 2001-02.

Under Andersen's leadership in 2010, USU held possession of the historic Beehive Boot trophy, the symbol of gridiron supremacy in the state of Utah, for the first time since 1997, after Andersen led the Aggies to a 31-16 win over BYU, their first win over the Cougars since 1993.

Utah State's win over BYU also earned the Aggies possession of the Old Wagon Wheel, the traveling trophy between USU and BYU. It was the first time since 1993 that USU has owned the Wheel. This is only the sixth time that Utah State has had both the Beehive Boot and the Old Wagon Wheel in its possession.

Andersen mentored a pair of all-WAC performers in 2010, as linebacker Bobby Wagner was named to the first-team list, while senior cornerback Curtis Marsh was a second-team selection.

Wagner once again led the WAC and ranked tied for seventh in FBS with 11.1 tackles per game, ranking second in the WAC with 133 total tackles in the 2010 season.

In only his second season as a cornerback after playing running back for the first two years of his USU career, Marsh started all 12 games of the 2010 season at cornerback. He ranked second in the WAC and sixth in FBS in passes defended with 1.25 per game with 15 total on 13 pass break-ups and two interceptions. Marsh's 13 pass break-ups in 2010 season are a career-high, nearly tripling 2009's total of five. Additionally, Marsh had 45 tackles (37 solo, eight assists) with one tackle for loss last season.

Marsh was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 26th pick of the third round, the 90th overall selection, in the NFL Draft, becoming the first player from the state of Utah school selected in this year's draft. Marsh is also the first former Aggie to be drafted since Shawn Murphy and Kevin Robinson were picked in the 2008 draft. With the third-round pick, Marsh is the earliest former Aggie selected since Chris Cooley was also picked in the third round, with the 81st overall pick, in the 2005 draft by the Washington Redskins.

Marsh was also selected to the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl, becoming USU's first player selected to an all-star game since 2008 when defensive back De'von Hall played in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Marsh was the first Aggie invited to the Senior Bowl since tight end Chris Cooley in 2004.

Andersen, who came to USU after five season at Utah, reached a rare plateau in USU's season-opener on Sept. 3, when he led the Aggies into action against his former team Utah. Since 1982, only two other head coaches in college football have began the season against their former team from the season before.

Andersen is the second coach in USU history to open their coaching career against Utah, as Dave Arslanian began his Aggie tenure against the Utes on Sept. 5, 1998.

Andersen also faced another former team when he and the Aggies made their home debut against Southern Utah on Sept. 26, with USU winning 53-34. Andersen was head coach at Southern Utah in 2003. He became the third-straight Aggie football coach to win his home-opener.

With four wins in his first season, Andersen is tied for the fourth-most victories in his opening season in school history, trailing eight by Tony Knap in 1963, while Chuck Mills in 1967 and Fred Walker in 1907 won seven, and four Aggie coaches won five, most recently Mick Dennehy in 2000. Also, Andersen joins John L. Smith in 1995 and Ev Faunce in 1955 as the only three USU head coaches to win four games in their first season at the helm of the Aggie program.

Andersen came to Utah State after five seasons as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Utah, where he helped guide the Utes to a 13-0 record in 2008. Utah finished the season ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll after winning the BCS Sugar Bowl with a dominating 31-17 victory against Alabama. Andersen was a part of seven bowl teams as Utah posted an 8-0 bowl record since 1999, giving the Utes the nation's longest bowl winning streak during Andersen's time there.

"Obviously, Gary's vast knowledge of the state of Utah coupled with his overall recruiting success will pay long-term dividends to our program. He will be focused and tireless in his approach to building and sustaining a winning program here at Utah State. We are all very excited to have Coach Andersen leading this program to the next step," Barnes said.

Overall, Andersen spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Utah after coaching for the Utes from 1997-2002 before becoming the head coach at Southern Utah in 2003 and then returning to Utah in 2004.

"It's a great opportunity and it's been a longtime goal of mine to be a Division I head football coach. I think every football coach has a niche as to where they want be a head coach and where they belong. I feel that Utah State is a perfect fit for my niche and what I believe in," Andersen said upon his hiring.

Andersen was named a finalist for the 2008 Broyles Award, honoring the top assistant coach in college football. He was also tabbed as the No. 1 non-BCS recruiter by Rivals.com in 2005 and was named a Rivals.com top 10 non-BCS recruiter in 2008.

"Utah State fits everything from a recruiting standpoint, to the student-athletes that we'll be dealing with on a daily basis as well as from a well-rounded academic viewpoint. At the end of the day, the best way to sum that up is when you're a head football coach, you need to look at what you need to do to be successful," Andersen said. "Without a doubt, Utah State has all the tools needed to recruit quality student-athletes socially, academically and athletically. These tools will allow us to build a successful program and continue the success that Utah State provides not just for football but for life for our players, as well as my staff, my family and myself."

Andersen was the architect behind Utah's vaunted defense during the 2008 season, which led the Utes to their second BCS bowl in five years after winning the 2004 Fiesta Bowl championship, capping another perfect 12-0 season and becoming the first non-BSC team to play in a BCS bowl game. In 2008, Utah ranked 11th in rushing defense (99.2) and total defense (289.2), and 12th in scoring defense (17.2). In the Sugar Bowl, Utah held an Alabama team that came into the game averaging 196.5 rushing yards per game to a meager 31 yards. The Utes nearly halved Alabama's point production as well, as the 17 points against Utah was 14 below the Crimson Tide's season average.

From 2005-2008, the Andersen-led Utah defense was in the top three of the Mountain West Conference in scoring defense, including a No. 1 league ranking in 2008, ranking No. 5 in the NCAA. The 2008 Utes' defense posted the top pass efficiency defense in the country and also led the conference in pass defense, ranking No. 11 in the nation. The previous two seasons, Utah led the league in turnover margin, ranking No. 13 in the country in 2008 after No. 22 in 2007.

The 2008 season saw Andersen coach defensive end Paul Kruger and cornerback Sean Smith who both had standout seasons and were second-round NFL Draft selections. Kruger was on the Ted Hendricks Award watch list, and led the Utes in 2008 in tackles for loss (16.5) and sacks (7.5). Those totals ranked second and third, respectively in the Mountain West Conference. Kruger also contributed 61 tackles, an interception (which he returned 30 yards), seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Kruger was tied for 31st in the NCAA in tackles for loss.

Smith led Utah and tied for the league lead with five interceptions, one which he returned for a touchdown. His 151 yards on interception returns led the league. Smith also led Utah in pass breakups with nine and had 46 tackles, two tackles for loss (one a sack) and a forced fumble. Smith's five interceptions was tied for 28th in the NCAA.

First joining Utah in 1997, Andersen coached defensive tackles and strong side ends for five seasons before being elevated to assistant head coach and adding special teams to his duties in 2001. He took over responsibility for the entire defensive line in 2002.

In 2003, Andersen migrated south to become the head coach at Southern Utah, guiding the Thunderbirds to a 4-7 record and bettering their win total of the previous three seasons combined. He turned around a program that was 102nd in the nation in the final 2002 I-AA Gridiron Power Index, which is used to determine playoff selections, into the No. 36-ranked team in his lone season.

He then returned to Utah in 2004 as the defensive line coach before taking over as the Utes' defensive coordinator in 2005.

During his tenure at Utah, Andersen coached 14 first-team all-conference players (three in 2008), including two Mountain West Conference Defensive Players of the Year in John Frank (1999) and Eric Weddle (2005 and 2006), as well as a consensus All-American in Weddle in 2006. Andersen has also coached 10 players drafted in the NFL in Richard Seals, John Frank, Lauvale Sape, Sione Pouha, Jonathan Fanene, Eric Weddle, Paul Soliai, Sean Smith, Brice McCain and Paul Kruger, in addition to several other players who made NFL rosters as free agents.

Andersen's coaching career began in 1988 as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana, where he coached for one season before going to Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) from 1989-92 as the offensive line coach. His other coaching stints include Idaho State (1992-94, defensive line), Park City HS (1994-95, head coach) and Northern Arizona (1995-96, assistant head coach/defensive line/special teams).

A 1986 graduate of Utah, Andersen earned his bachelor's degree in political science. He played center for Utah from 1985-86 after garnering first-team junior college All-America honors in 1984 at Ricks College.

Andersen is married to the former Stacey Lambert, and they have three children: Keegan and twins Chasen and Hagen. Keegan is a member of his father's USU team as a redshirt-freshman tight end. Chasen and Hagen attend Logan HS. Andersen's brother, Mark, is USU's director of football operations.

Gary Andersen is entering his second season as Utah State head football coach, after being named to the role on on Dec. 4, 2008 by USU Athletics Director Scott Barnes. Andersen is the 26th head coach in 115 years of Aggie football.

Andersen's Coaching File

2009-Present - Utah State
        2009-Present - Head Coach
2004-2008 - Utah
	2005-2008 - Defensive Coordinator / Assistant Head Coach /
Defensive Line
	2004 - Defensive Line
2003 - Southern Utah
	Head Coach
1997-2002 - Utah
	2002 - Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Line /
Special Teams Coordinator
	2001 - Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Tackles /
Strong Side Ends / Special Teams Coordinator
	1997-00 - Defensive Tackles / Strong Side Ends
1995-96 - Northern Arizona
	1995-96 - Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Line / Special Teams
1994-95 - Park City HS (Utah)
	Head Coach
1992-94 - Idaho State
	Defensive Line
1989-92 - Ricks College
	Offensive Line
1988 - Southeastern Louisiana
	Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator
Bowl Experience
1999 - Las Vegas Bowl - W, 17-16 vs. Fresno State
2001- Las Vegas Bowl - W, 10-6 vs. USC
2004 (2005) - Fiesta Bowl - W, 35-7 vs. Pittsburgh
2005 - Emerald Bowl - W, 38-10 vs. Georgia Tech
2006 - Armed Forces Bowl - W, 25-13 vs. Tulsa
2007 - Poinsettia Bowl - W, 35-32 vs. Navy

-- Andersen reached a rare plateau in USU's season-opener on Sept. 3, when he led the Aggies into action against his former team Utah... Since 1982, only two other head coaches in college football have began the season against their former team from the season before.

-- Andersen is the second coach in USU history to open their coaching career against Utah, as Dave Arslanian began his Aggie tenure against the Utes on Sept. 5, 1998.

-- Andersen also faced another former team when he and the Aggies made their home debut against Southern Utah on Sept. 26, with USU winning 53-34... Andersen was head coach at Southern Utah in 2003.

-- Andersen became the third-straight Aggie football coach to win his home-opener, in USU's 2009 home-opening 53-34 victory over Southern Utah.

-- With four wins in his first season, Andersen is tied for the fourth-most victories in his opening season in school history... Andersen joins John L. Smith in 1995 and Ev Faunce in 1955 as the only three USU head coaches to win four games in their first season at the helm of the Aggie program.

-- Andersen is the second Aggie head coach that is a Utah alum, joining USU legendary head coach E. Lowell Romney (1919-48), who graduated from Utah in 1917 and is USU's football stadium namesake.

-- While at Utah, Andersen was a part of a Utes coaching staff that posted a 13-5 (.722) record against current WAC schools, going 0-3 vs. Boise State, 2-1 vs. Fresno State, 1-0 vs. Hawai'i, 1-0 vs. San Jose State and 9-1 vs. Utah State.

-- At Utah, Andersen was a part of two Ute teams that went 2-0 in BCS action, finishing No. 2 in the 2008 AP Poll and No. 4 in 2004.

-- As an assistant coach at Northern Arizona (1995-96), Andersen was 1-1 against current WAC schools, beating Boise State and losing to Idaho, both in 1995.

-- Andersen was a part of seven bowl teams as Utah had an 8-0 bowl record since 1999 during Andersen's tenure there, helping the Utes to the nation's longest bowl winning streak.

-- Andersen has coached a total of 19 players on NFL rosters, including USU's James Brindley, as well as three draft selections in 2008 in second-round picks Paul Kruger and Sean Smith, along with sixth-round selection Bryce McCain, 15 first-team all-conference players, including first-team all-WAC linebacker Bobby Wagner, along with two Mountain West Conference defensive players of the year in John Frank (1999) and Eric Weddle (2005 and 2006), as well as a consensus first-team All-American in Weddle in 2006, as well as second-team All-American Morgan Scalley in 2004.

What Others Are Saying About Coach Andersen

Kyle Whittingham
Utah Head Coach, 2008 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year

"Gary has been instrumental to our success here at Utah. We want to thank him for his hard work and dedication to the University of Utah football program, and we wish him well in his head coaching career."

Eric Weddle
Second-year San Diego Chargers strong safety, 2006 Consensus All-American, two-time MWC Defensive Player of the Year

"He's one of the best coaches I've ever been around. He's an intense, passionate coach. He cares not only for the player inside the program but when they're outside the world of football as well. I look up to him immensely and wouldn't have gotten as far as I have without his coaching and his guidance. Utah State made a great hire in making him their head coach. He's a great motivator, he's passionate and he loves coaching kids. I look for bright things from him in making Utah State a winning program."

Steve Tate
Utah three-year starter, First-Team All-Mountain West Conference Selection, played one season at USU in 2001 before going on an LDS Church Mission and then transferring to Utah

"Coach Andersen is exactly what Utah State needs. He understands the state of Utah and the caliber of players that are in the state, and the talent that they provide. He's a recruiting genius. When he's in the homes of recruits, the parents and the kids fall in love with him. He knows how to get the best talent from each and every player every week of the season. I'm thrilled for him, he has mentored me not just as a player, but a person. It's an added bonus that he was a head coach. He's proven that he can be successful as a defensive coordinator and a head coach with what he was able to do in just one season at Southern Utah. I'm excited to watch him build a successful program at Utah State and carry on that success for the Aggies into the future."

Kelly Talavou
First-year Baltimore Ravens defensive nose tackle, First-Team All-Mountain West Conference Selection

"Coach Andersen is a great coach. Utah State is lucky to get a terrific coach like him. He was my D-line coach at Utah and cared for me and made me be the best player I could be. He always made sure I did everything to the best of my abilities on and off the football field. His defenses get better every season and are one of the best in the country. Utah State is fortunate to get a great coach like him. He's coached a lot of great defensive linemen in his career. He's one of the best recruiters I know. Utah State is getting one of the best coaches around and hopefully he can turn that program around."