After a 1-5 start to the season and most recently a 38-10 loss to USC, Oregon State and head football coach Gary Anderson have decided to “mutually part ways” in a move that is only surprising with regards to timing. The school made the news official on Monday afternoon with an emailed statement to students, noting assistant Cory Hall will coach out the remainder of the season in an interim role.
BREAKING: Students have just received this email from President Ed Ray. Coach Gary Andersen and OSU have parted ways. pic.twitter.com/e1ik6DHvXX
— Amy Schwartz (@TheAmySchwartz) October 9, 2017
Anderson’s statement on why he and the school decided to part ways notes that it is the “correct decision” and that success only comes when “all parties involved are moving in the same direction.
Oregon State and Head Football coach Gary Andersen mutually part ways. Effective immediately. #LiveOnKVAL pic.twitter.com/mF81W5gtko
— Sky Muller (@SKYSPX) October 9, 2017
The school will conduct a full coaching search for the 2018 season while Hall tries to steer the ship back in the right direction. Anderson was 7-23 in his two and a half seasons as the coach of the Beavers, leaving Wisconsin and taking over for Mike Riley who left for the Nebraska job (and ironically might be available this offseason with an AD change in Lincoln).
The Beavers struggled to find footing with Anderson as head coach and this season appears headed to another finish at the bottom of the Pac-12, with their lone win so far being a three-point win over FCS Portland State. Oregon State has not been to a bowl game since 2013.
