Football: Bustle Tabs Blake Anderson for Offensive Coordinator Post

Matt Hebert, Sports Information –

LAFAYETTE – University of Louisiana at Lafayette head football coach Rickey Bustle filled his first of two vacancies on his offensive staff on Wednesday as he announced the hiring of Blake Anderson as the Ragin’ Cajuns’ new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

Anderson joins Bustle’s staff after a brief hiatus from coaching the past two seasons. In his last post, Anderson was co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach at Middle Tennessee from the 2002 through 2004 seasons. He replaces Rob Christophel, who was the Cajuns offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from January 1, 2002, until his release on December 11, 2006.

Anderson’s hiring is pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

While at Middle Tennessee, he helped direct an offensive unit that led the Sun Belt Conference in scoring offense during the 2003 season and ranked 15^th in the NCAA in passing offense during the 2004 campaign.  

His 2003 Blue Raiders averaged 27.7 points per game generating 42 total touchdowns.

In 2004, his Blue Raiders passing attack averaged 267.7 yards per game. Quarterback Clint Marks led the SBC in passing yards per game (249.9) while wide receivers Kerry Wright and Chris Henry ranked second and third in the league in receptions per game.

Each year under his guidance the Blue Raiders passing offense increased. MT went from 154.0 yards per game in 2002 to 226.7 in 2003 then 267.7 in 2004.

His most recognizable pupils at MT were Wright who in 2004 became the school’s first 1,000 yard receiver. In his first year with the Blue Raiders (2002), Anderson coached the program’s No. 2 and No. 6 all-time leading receivers in Tyrone Calico and David Youell. Calico earned all-conference honors and was drafted in the second round (60th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft.

“I am extremely excited with the addition of Blake to our staff,” Bustle said. “His attacking offensive philosophy and experience with the mix of the no-huddle offense is a great fit for our program.”

Anderson spent three seasons at New Mexico before landing at MT. He served as the wide receivers coach in 2001 and running backs coach from 1999-2000. The UNM running backs were responsible for a major share of the Lobo offense in 2000.The Lobos averaged 148 yards per game on the ground, which accounted for 56 percent of the team’s total offense.

Anderson worked at Trinity Valley Community College (1995-98) before joining the Division I-A ranks at UNM. In 1998, he was the offensive coordinator and the Cardinals went 7-3. Trinity Valley led the conference in rushing offense and was eighth nationally. The Cardinals were also second in their league in total offense under Anderson’s guidance and led the league in scoring average. He helped lead the Cardinals to the 1997 NJCAA National Championship.

Other capacities in which Anderson served were quarterbacks and receivers coach, defensive backs coach, and recruiting coordinator. In his four years at Trinity Valley, nine Cardinals were drafted by NFL teams.

Anderson was a two-year letterwinner at receiver for Sam Houston State from 1989-91, and was named Southland Conference All-Academic as a senior. He also played for two years as a quarterback and receiver at Baylor (1987-89) before transferring.

A native of Hubbard, Texas, Anderson graduated with his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Sam Houston State in 1992. He also attained his master’s degree in sports administration from Eastern New Mexico in 1994.

While at Eastern New Mexico he began his coaching career. He served as wide receivers/tight ends coach in 1992 before becoming passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach in 1993.