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LOGAN â A day after Gary Andersen was re-introduced as head coach at Utah State, another coach has decided to come back to Logan, too.
TJ Woods, who spent two seasons on Andersenâs coaching staff, will return to Cache Valley as an offensive assistant coach. The news was first reported by the Bowling Green Daily News when it announced that Woods was leaving Western Kentucky to reunite with his old boss.
Woods was the tight ends and special teams coach at Utah State from 2009-10 before moving over to offensive line in 2011-12, all under Andersen. A former JUCO All-American who went on to star at NAIA Azusa Pacific, Woods followed Andersen to Wisconsin and Oregon State, rising as high as co-offensive coordinator in 2016 before taking on the run-game coordinator and offensive line roles in 2017.
When Andersen abruptly stepped down at Oregon State, Woods took a job as offensive line coach at Western Kentucky in February 2018. The Hilltoppers finished 3-9 last season, averaging 363.7 yards per game that included 136.8 yards on the ground.
Utah State has not confirmed the hire, but it is assumed that Woods will be involved in the Aggiesâ offense going forward â perhaps even as offensive coordinator. He has plenty of experience as an offensive line coach, run game coordinator and co-offensive coordinator in previous stops.
Current OC David Yost will coach the Aggies through Saturdayâs New Mexico Bowl, before departing to join former coach Matt Wellsâ staff at Texas Tech.
"There are people from all over the country that would love to come here at a very high level," Andersen said Tuesday during his introduction. "Iâm going to start those interviews as early as (Wednesday) as we go through this process and get the right coordinators in here for these young men, get the right coaches in here that simply believe in what we believe, and what weâve always believed in here."
Frank Maile will lead the Aggies as interim head coach for the bowl game. His status with Andersen's regime is also uncertain, but it is assumed the co-defensive coordinator under Wells remains a candidate to be Utah State's defensive coordinator.
Andersen said he has a defensive coordinator in mind during his introduction Tuesday, but the former Aggie coach and Utah assistant has not announced any staff additions. He'll assume full-time head coaching responsibilities Jan. 7, when he hopes to have his staff in place.
"I will not be at the bowl game. I donât believe thatâs my place," Andersen said. "Iâve done that in the past, and it wasnât great for the coaches that were there, for the players that were there. They are the 2018 Aggies, and they need to go win, take care of themselves in the bowl game and enjoy that bowl game together for the last time."
