Blake Anderson is reportedly becoming a head college football coach once again.
On Thursday afternoon, ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported that Anderson — who was Utah State’s head coach from 2021-24 and Arkansas State’s head coach from 2014-2020 before that — will be named the head coach of the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.
Anderson replaces Charles Huff, who left Southern Miss to become the new head coach at Memphis.
Anderson was the Golden Eagles’ offensive coordinator during the 2025 season, Huff’s lone campaign as head coach of the program, and since Huff left the speculation has been that Anderson would get promoted to the top job after being named interim head coach for the team’s bowl game against Western Kentucky on Dec. 23.
Anderson arrived for his second stint at Southern Miss almost exactly a year ago after being fired by Utah State in July 2024 for “significant violations of his contractual obligations related to USU’s employee reporting requirements,” according to a press release when he was placed on administrative leave, as the Deseret News reported at the time.
He was previously on staff at Southern Miss from 2008-11. On Wednesday, he had told reporters that he wanted to replace Huff on a permanent basis.
“I’ve made it very clear I’d love to be the head coach here.” Anderson said. “I wouldn’t have probably come back here if I didn’t feel that way about this place.
“Not that I ever expected when I came back that that would be the opportunity, but that’s what I think about Southern Miss.”
Anderson compiled a record of 74-54 in his head coaching stints at Arkansas State and Utah State.