Utah State College plans to fireside soccer coach Blake Anderson for allegedly violating Title IX insurance policies, the varsity introduced Tuesday.
“This determination comes after an intensive exterior evaluate of alleged noncompliance with college insurance policies that implement Title IX, which require full and well timed reporting of disclosures of sexual misconduct — together with home violence — and prohibit staff from investigating disclosures of sexual misconduct themselves,” the college mentioned in a information launch.
USU mentioned Anderson violated college insurance policies within the spring of 2023. Per his contract, he may have 14 days to answer the varsity’s intent to terminate.
Utah State has additionally fired Deputy Athletic Director Jerry Bovee, who was the interim athletics director on the time of the alleged violations, and the soccer program’s director of participant growth and neighborhood, Austin Albrecht, for “violations of college insurance policies associated to the reporting of sexual and home violence and failures {of professional} obligations.”
“As leaders, we’re answerable for guaranteeing allegations of USU coverage violations are investigated,” Utah State President Elizabeth Cantwell and Athletics Director Diana Sabua mentioned in an announcement. “As we speak’s actions are the results of an intensive exterior investigation, and we imagine the proof calls for fast motion. Our job is to fearlessly maintain ourselves and others accountable for his or her conduct and to ensure that, for the sake of our college students and our neighborhood, we live the values of our college. Whereas recognizing the influence of those selections on our pupil athletes and soccer program, we are going to proceed to take the steps essential to ship a respectful, clear and profitable tradition at Utah State College.”
Defensive coordinator Nate Dreilling would be the workforce’s interim head coach for the 2024 season.
Sabau met with the soccer workforce Tuesday to tell them of the adjustments.
Anderson was preparing for his fourth season in Logan as head coach. After profitable the Mountain West convention his first 12 months, the final two years have resulted in shedding seasons. He went 6-7 in 2023, shedding within the Idaho Potato Bowl.
This isn’t the primary time Anderson has been concerned in a faculty investigation. In December of 2021, Utah State pupil Kaytriauna Flint filed a lawsuit alleging USU didn’t examine circumstances of sexual assault involving soccer gamers totally sufficient. She additionally mentioned the varsity misguided her along with her Title IX case.
Whereas Flint alleged she was sexually assaulted in 2019 by a soccer participant — earlier than Anderson was the coach — the lawsuit uncovered recordings of Anderson speaking about sexual assault victims along with his gamers in 2021.
Anderson was heard saying it “has by no means been extra glamorized to be a sufferer” of sexual assault. He additionally mentioned the soccer workforce was a “goal” and “far more in danger” for being accused of sexual assault.
“You don’t must put your self able that you may create a sufferer,” he mentioned within the recording. “And it doesn’t take a complete lot. So it scares the s— out of me.”
The recordings had been taken by one among his gamers, Patrick Maddox. Maddox left the workforce and mentioned Anderson pressured him to apologize to the group for recording. Maddox filed a lawsuit in opposition to USU for allegedly retaliating in opposition to him. He settled the lawsuit for $150,000 out of court docket.
After the recording was launched, Anderson apologized for his feedback. He was allowed to proceed teaching.