Anderson Named West Virginia State Head Coach

West Virginia State has hired USF defensive coordinator Jon Anderson as the Yellow Jackets' next football coach.

 

Wet Virginia State athletic director Sean Loyd made the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

The decision makes Anderson a head coach for the first time in his career. Anderson becomes the 13th head football coach in Yellow Jackets history.

 

“We are delighted that a coach of Jon's caliber, with a solid focus on student academic success and a strong, proven record of winning, is joining the Yellow Jacket family,” said Brian O. Hemphill, WVSU president.

 

“Coach Anderson is a great fit for our football program at State,” added Loyd. “Our student athletes, and really everyone here at West Virginia State, are ready to take football to the next level. Jon's winning record speaks for itself, and we are confident he will bring that same level of success to our program.”

 

USF went 9-2 this year, its first as a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

 

USF was previously a member of the NAIA and won the NAIA National Championship in 2006, 2008 and 2009, and was the national runner-up in 2007 and 2010.

 

Overall, the Cougars have posted a 134-26 record including a 21-5 playoff record with Anderson as part of the coaching staff. USF has dominated its conference opponents, winning 92 of its last 95 conference games. In 2009, the school posted a perfect 15-0 record in route to its second consecutive NAIA national championship.

 

In 2012, Anderson's defensive unit was among the conference leaders in scoring defense, surrendering only 20.2 points a game. The Cougars' defense was also among the league leaders in forcing turnovers taking the ball away from opponents 29 times, including 23 interceptions. The 2012 defensive unit built on the success of the 2011 team when the Cougars' defense forced 21 turnovers and gave up just 21.6 points per game. During Anderson's three years as defensive coordinator, the Cougars have posted a 27-7 record and have limited opponents to an average of 16 points per game.

 

I'm very proud of him. Very happy for him," said USF head football coach Jed Stugart. "He got an opportunity to go on and further his career and it's something he wants to do. I’m always thrilled when one of our guys gets the opportunity to be a head coach.”

 

Stugart also said the players and other coaches are happy for him.

 

“Our coaching staff is very elated. Everybody is happy for him,” Stugart added. “He turned a great defense into an even better defense."

 

“West Virginia State has a great leader in Jon Anderson. “

 

Prior to being named the Cougars' defensive coordinator, Anderson served eight years as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. In that role, he coached five All-Americans and eight All-Conference players.

 

Anderson played college football for four years at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, and coached the secondary at his alma mater during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Anderson moved to Madison, S.D., to join the Dakota State University staff as the linebackers and special teams coach for the 2001 season.

 

Anderson arrived at USF for the 2002 season and earned his master's degree from South Dakota State University in 2003.

 

He and his wife, Amanda, have two sons, Trevor and Tyce.