Ray Anderson resigned from his position as ASU Vice President for University Athletics on Monday morning according to an announcement from Sun Devil Athletics.
Anderson served as the leader of Arizona State’s athletics program from 2014 to Monday.
In the statement released by Sun Devil Athletics, Anderson cited his age and the “unprecedented era where the number and magnitude of changes in the college landscape” as reasons for his stepping aside.
His resignation comes fresh off the heels of one of Sun Devil Athletics’s best weekends in years, highlighted by a win by the embattled football program over UCLA in the Rose Bowl.
The last two years of his tenure have been mired in controversy. Issues with the football program stemming from the term of Herm Edwards as head football coach boiled over this fall. Anderson, a longtime friend of Edwards, fired the coach last season after an embarrassing loss to Eastern Michigan.
Looming NCAA recruiting violation punishments resulted in Anderson and the university placing a self-imposed bowl ban on the football team for the 2023 season instead of last season after the departure of Edwards.
Anderson also made a series of bizarre comments after Arizona State’s decision to move to the Big 12 conference next year, primarily related to traveling to West Virginia. He ultimately walked back the comments but was the subject of criticism following his statements.
Questions about Anderson’s emphasis, or lack thereof, on NIL were also raised over the last year. The programs at Arizona State have been behind the eight ball in the new age of Name, Image and Likeness.
Two coaches hired during Anderson’s reign spoke about their former employer’s resignation on Monday.
“I’m thankful for him giving me the opportunity to be the head coach here at my alma mater,” current head football coach Kenny Dillingham said.
Head baseball coach Willie Bloomquist echoed his football colleague’s sentiment, citing immense gratitude for the opportunity to come back to a place he truly loves.
The tandem of coaches both said the news was relayed to them this morning. Bloomquist seemed to be more surprised by the news than Dillingham, who chose not to speak on the “timeline” of the situation.
Both coaches, however, mentioned how this could affect the NIL landscape in Tempe.
“I definitely think any time there’s change, it rattles enough cages to get some people involved and understand there’s a direction we’re heading,” Dillingham said.
Even After securing a top-25 recruiting class, Bloomquist shared a similar view to Dillingham on the urgency of NIL.
“If we’re going to be successful in today’s landscape of college sports, we are going to need help,” he said. “That’s every sport… that’s not a threat, that’s not a cry, that’s just the honest truth.”
How much effect a new regime will have on the state of Sun Devil Athletics remains to be seen but Anderson’s resignation certainly indicated a willingness to change.
Jim Rund, ASU Senior Vice President for Educational Outreach and Student Services, has taken over as the interim athletic director.
Anderson will remain involved at Arizona State. His intention is to remain in Tempe as a professor of practice and senior advisor at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
The search for Anderson’s successor will likely begin soon, as that is a position the university will want to be occupied prior to the official move to the Big 12.
Leave a Reply