LOGAN – Former Utah State University football head coach Blake Anderson has formerly filed a civil lawsuit in First District Court against his former employer requesting $15 million in damages related to four causes, including breach of contract and defamation which has “caused him significant damages and reputational harm,” according to the complaint.
In the complaint, filed by a local law firm on Nov. 19 on behalf of the coach, Anderson states he has been unable to obtain employment in the industry he has worked in for the past 30 years since his termination.
He has applied for several jobs and, “multiple schools have expressed a high level of interest, but have stated that they are concerned about the optics due to public nature of Defendant’s aired grievances against Anderson,” the complaint stated. In one case, a school tried to arrange having Anderson as a private contractor consultant, where Anderson “would provide coaching services but not appear publicly.” The potential future employer eventually decided against it, “due to the risk of public backlash because of Defendants actions,” the lawsuit stated.
Anderson requests a jury trial where sustained damages will be proven, but are suggested to be no less than $15 million. The named defendants in the case are USU, Mica McKinney, Vice President for Legal Affairs & General Counsel for USU, and Diana Sabau, Vice President and Director of Athletics for USU. The lawsuit states these damages are a “direct and proximate result of Sabau’s and McKinney’s conduct.”
The lawsuit states, “during and after Anderson’s termination, Diana Sabau has engaged in a public smear campaign against Anderson, in which she knowingly or recklessly makes false or misleading statements, including that former USU President Noelle Cockett initiated the investigation and that the investigation’s purpose was not to target any specific individuals (directly contradicted by Noelle Cockett herself, who indicates Mica McKinney approached her asking her to consider doing the investigation as a favor, which was turned down).”
“Sabau also falsely stated (in interviews with media outlets) that Anderson made ‘bad choices and bad decisions’,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit maintains Anderson’s innocence in the allegations made against him and point to his 30-year “esteemed and respected coaching career,” which states, prior to the events of 2023, where USU alleges Anderson violated policy, he “had an unblemished and successful football coaching career, both on and off the field.”
USU had a contract with Anderson through December 2027. However, the terms of that agreement stated it would be dissolved, including any further compensation or benefits (which was roughly a $4.5 million buyout USU would have owed him) if USU terminated him “for cause.”
His employment would be considered “at-will” if USU notified him that it was terminating him for “convenience,” Anderson stated in the lawsuit.
Utah is an at-will state, which means in the absence of a written employment or other bargaining agreement either the employer or employee may terminate employment for any reason.
USU claims Anderson primarily violated a reporting policy. In July, USU gave the following context on Anderson’s firing.
“This action is based on significant violations of his contractual obligations related to USU’s employee reporting requirements,” the statement read. “These reporting requirements include a prohibition on employees outside the USU Office of Equity from investigating issues of sexual misconduct, including domestic violence. Additionally, Anderson failed to manage the team in a manner that reflects USU’s academic values.”
The latest 2023-2024 USU Student-Athlete Handbook has since been revised from it’s older 2022-2023 version to remove a statement that directs “The Director of Athletics, in consultation with the head coach and sport supervisor, will determine additional disciplinary action based upon the individual circumstances of any misconduct.”
The new version of the handbook, which was revised in August of 2023 also adds, “Coaches and athletic administrators are designated as reporting employees. Therefore, if the incident involves sexual misconduct, those who have been notified are required to report the incident to the Office of Equity.”
Deputy athletic director Jerry Bovee, senior woman administrator Amy Crosbie and football director of player development Austin Albrecht were all dismissed by USU over alleged failures to report an April 2023 incident of domestic violence as required by USU policy. All have maintained no wrongdoing in reporting the situation. Bovee and Crosbie have filed grievances.
In August, Anderson announced he had hired local legal counsel to “clear his name.” Bearnson & Caldwell issued a news release at that same time confirming they were working on the case for Anderson.
“All of the attorneys at Bearnson & Caldwell are true-blooded AGGIES.” the release stated, noting that the “administration’s actions have negatively impacted not only Coach Anderson and others in the USU football program, but other well respected community members such as Jerry Bovee, Amy Crosbie, Austin Albrect, and an entire USU community that turly bleeds ‘Aggie Blue.’”
“Though accountability by the heads of the current administration will be the cost, their actions will be brought to bear, the truth will prevail, and USU’s true character and reputation will be preserved,” Bearnson & Caldwell’s release stated.
USU did not respond to the complaint other than to reiterate its previous statement to Cache Valley Daily: “Utah State University stands by its decision to terminate Anderson’s contract for cause.”