Utah State AD John Hartwell Steps Down
Nov 1, 2022, 8:57 AM | Updated: Nov 2, 2022, 11:52 am
Utah State Vice President and Director of Athletics John Hartwell (Photo by Deseret News)
(Photo by Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah State Athletic Director John Hartwell has stepped down, sources confirmed to KSL Sports.
The news was initially reported by College AD.
UPDATE: Utah State University Names Jerry Bovee Interim Athletics Director
BREAKING: Sources tell CollegeAD the Utah State AD John Hartwell has stepped down ➡ https://t.co/T2YLT2fGaf pic.twitter.com/jkVqbwMAim
— CollegeAD (@collegead) November 1, 2022
Hartwell had been with the Aggies since 2015. Prior to his time with Utah State University he was the AD for Troy and held lower-level positions with Ole Miss and Georgia State.
According to Pete Thamel, of ESPN Hartwell said he resigned in order to move his family back to the South.
RELATED ARTICLE: Utah State Plans National Search To Replace Hartwell
“We had a great run at Utah State,” he told ESPN, “It’s time to make sure my family comes first.”
Spoke to Utah State AD John Hartwell. He said he resigned from Utah State last night to move his family back to the South. “We had a great run at Utah State,” he told ESPN. “It’s time to make sure my family comes first.”
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 1, 2022
Utah State Under John Hartwell
There have been ups and downs for the Aggies football team during Harwell’s time with the school, both on and off the field.
Since he began in 2015, the football team has seen four coaches; Matt Wells, Frank Maile (interim), Gary Andersen and Blake Anderson.
Most recently, Blake Anderson‘s time with the school has been tumultuous. On the field he led them to Mountain West title in 2021, the program’s first Mountain West conference title.
Recently, a lawsuit was filed by former Utah State football player Patrick Maddox, accusing the school and coach Anderson of blackmail and retaliation for trying to help his friend in a lawsuit against the school for mishandling a previous sexual assault allegation.
Lawsuit Against Utah State & Blake Anderson
Anderson responded to the lawsuit, saying he will vigorously defend himself and Utah State University against false statements.
“I look forward to providing facts, context and clarification of the allegations against myself. I love and appreciate all of our players, past and present. Besides respecting each other like family, we work to foster good character and social responsibility. We strive to build a culture our fans, community and University can be proud of, and that respects all people,” Anderson wrote on his personal Twitter account.
— Blake Anderson (@CHbanderson) October 29, 2022
“I care deeply about Patrick Maddox, as I do about all of our players. Both before and after the incidents at issue lawsuit, I supported Patrick as a player and in his goals for the future. I wish him nothing but the best,” Anderson finished.
Maddox quit the team in February. He had been an Aggie since 2019.
Coverage of Utah State University Athletics from KSL Sports can be found here.
