LOGAN, Utah — Utah State offensive coordinator Mike Santiago resigned Monday, two days after the winless Aggies failed to score a point on offense for the fourth consecutive game.
Both Santiago and coach Brent Guy said the decision for Santiago to step down early in his second season with the Aggies was a mutual one.
"Somebody's got to be accountable ... and that was me," Santiago told The Associated Press.
Santiago said he hadn't been thinking about resigning, but two days after a 38-0 loss at Brigham Young he and Guy agreed there were "philosophical differences." Santiago declined to elaborate.
Utah State ranks last in the country in total offense at 179.5 yards per game and is also last in scoring. The Aggies' only points this season came when an interception was returned for a touchdown in the opener against Wyoming.
Guy hired Santiago, the former coach at Stephen F. Austin, last year when he began trying to rebuild the program after replacing Mick Dennehy.
"It is a bad situation and there really is no way to define it other than it is a tough business and you have to sometimes do things," Guy said during his weekly news conference. "Mike and I felt like we couldn't go on the same way and he offered his resignation and I accepted it."
Utah State averaged 317 yards of offense last season and scored almost 19 points per game while going 3-8, but the production has dropped off dramatically this fall.
The Aggies have turned the ball over eight times, six in a 48-0 shutout to Utah and two more Saturday against BYU.
Despite the woeful offense, the Aggies weren't expecting Monday's news.
"It was a big shock to all of us," receiver Tarell Richards said. "We wish Coach Santiago the best of luck and hope he finds his place. We can't really dwell on it."
Santiago thanked his players and athletic director Randy Spetman for supporting him during his short tenure at Utah State.
Receivers coach Greg Stevens, Santiago's offensive coordinator at Stephen F. Austin, will take over as interim offensive coordinator for the Aggies.
Utah State opens the Western Athletic Conference season Saturday at home against Idaho.