Gary Andersen returns to Utah’s football staff as associate head coach

Gary Andersen is back at Utah.

Andersen, a longtime former Ute assistant who stunned the college football world when he abruptly resigned as Oregon State’s head coach in October, is returning to the Utah staff as an associate head coach and will work with the defense, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham announced Tuesday morning.

The Salt Lake City native will begin his third stint at Utah when the new NCAA rule allowing a 10th assistant coach goes into effect on Jan. 9.

“We’re looking forward to Gary rejoining our staff,” Whittingham said in a news release. “Gary brings a wealth of high-level coaching experience to the program, including serving as the head coach at two Power Five schools. During his previous time on our staff, he developed some of the best defensive linemen in Utah history. In addition, he is an excellent recruiter and motivator and understands what it takes to win at this level.”

Andersen begins his 12th overall season with the Utes after nine years away as the head coach at Utah State (2009-12), Wisconsin (2013-14) and Oregon State (2015-17). Among his head coaching highlights were a Western Athletic Conference championship in 2012 with Utah State and the 2014 Big Ten West Division title with Wisconsin.

Andersen’s first run with the Utes was as a defensive line coach from 1997-2002 under then-head coach Ron McBride. He also served as the assistant head coach from 2001-02. After a year as the head coach at Southern Utah in 2003, Andersen returned to the U. in 2004 as Urban Meyer’s defensive line coach. From 2005-08, he was Whittingham’s defensive coordinator, assistant head coach and defensive line coach. He departed for the head coaching job at Utah State after Utah’s win over Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl.

“Returning to the Utah football family is something my wife, Stacey, and I are very excited about,” Andersen said in the news release. “Having an opportunity to coach at your alma mater is somewhat unusual, and having the opportunity to do it again is certainly special. Kyle Whittingham is a great coach and I look forward to working alongside him again. I am fired up to meet the players and go to work.”

Andersen played center for Utah from 1985-86 after earning first-team junior college All-America honors at Ricks College in 1984.

He became available after resigning as Oregon State’s coach on Oct. 9, citing frustrations with setbacks his program encountered during his third season in Corvallis, including a general unhappiness with his coaching staff.

Beyond the timing of Andersen’s resignation — few anticipated such a move so early in the season — was his decision to walk away from the $11.6 million remaining on his contract, though he did receive a much smaller, six-figure severance payment on his way out the door.

“Coaching is not about the mighty dollar. It is about teaching and putting young men in a position to succeed on and off the field,” Andersen said at the time. “Success comes when all parties involved are moving in the same direction.”

Oregon State was 1-5 when he resigned. The Beavers were 7-23 overall during Andersen’s tenure.

This story will be updated.