Oregon State and Gary Andersen agree to part ways

Gary Andersen and Oregon State have agreed to part ways following a fourth straight decisive loss for the Beavers.

After a 38-10 loss to USC last Saturday, the Oregon State Beavers have now lost their last four games by a combined score of 180-54. Coach Gary Andersen took on something of a rebuilding project in Corvallis, but a 7-23 record over two-plus seasons, a 3-18 mark in the Pac-12 and the recent blowout losses had him on the hot seat.

On Monday, the presumed heat on Andersen turned into a reality. According to John Canzano of The Oregonian and 102.9 radio, Andersen and Oregon State have agreed to part ways, effective immediately. Cornerbacks coach Cory Hall has been named interim head coach for the rest of the season.

After a 48-14 home loss to Minnesota on Sept. 9, Andersen went public with his frustration over how things were going early in the season. With games against Washington State, Washington and USC still to come at that point, a dismal ending was easy to foresee, but most thought it would be after the season. So Monday’s news is out of the blue, if only because of timing.

Here’s the official statement announcing Andersen’s departure.

The most interesting part of the announcement is a complete release of all future payments due to Andersen through the term of a contract extension just agreed upon this past offseason. There may have been some sort of buyout amount agreed, so Andersen should still be leaving Corvallis with more than some cool Beavers gear.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach passed along the exact details regarding the money Andersen is giving up, leaving aside any speculation of an unreported or unreleased buyout.

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Andersen inexplicably left a stable, winning situation at Wisconsin after just two seasons with a 19-7 record. He had good (family) and bad (high academic standards) reasons for making the move, but you have to wonder how Andersen feels about all that now.