West Virginia State opened its search for a new football coach on Tuesday afternoon after Jon Anderson officially accepted the head coaching position at the University of Sioux Falls.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for Jon to return to a place where he has called home before and we wish him well," WVSU athletic director Nate Burton said. "We appreciate everything he did for West Virginia State University. He helped to build a great culture for our student-athletes while he was here, and we wish him and his family success moving forward into this new chapter in their lives."
West Virginia State offensive coordinator John Pennington will serve as the team's interim coach. Pennington came to WVSU in 2015 as offensive coordinator. The Yellow Jackets led the Mountain East Conference with 282.3 passing yards per game in 2015 and were second in the MEC with 294.4 passing yards per game this past season.
The Yellow Jackets finished 3-8 in 2016, capping the season with two victories. They'll return eight starters on defense and 10 on offense next season.
Burton said he has already been in contact with interested candidates as the school prepares to launch its nationwide search. He said that the school will try to work as quickly as it can to find a qualified candidate, but will also try to ensure that they are getting the best coach they can find. Among key factors in the search are the need for a candidate who has been part of a winning program and can help bring that culture to West Virginia State, while also demonstrating strong skills in recruiting and connecting with members of the university community.
"This is an important time for our football program and we're going to work hard to find the right person for the job," Burton said. "We believe this can be an attractive job to a lot of people. With our Monroe Athletic Complex and the players we have coming back, we'll have some great things here that the next coach can really work with to continue building a winning program here at State."
During Anderson's tenure at West Virginia State, the team went 10-34. He'll be returning to Sioux Falls, where he served as an assistant coach for 11 years, including a stint as the school's defensive coordinator. The Cougars have made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Anderson replaced former USF coach Jed Stugart, who left Sioux Falls to become head coach at Lindenwood University.
In 2015, the Yellow Jackets won five games - the most wins for the program since winning seven in 2008.
"I want to thank the Administration at West Virginia State University for the opportunities they gave me to make a difference in young lives," Anderson said in a release from WVSU. "Our time here in West Virginia was outstanding and we will miss the many meaningful relationships my family enjoyed with the Yellow Jacket Nation and our surrounding communities."
It is uncertain if any members of the current West Virginia State will be following Anderson to Sioux Falls, according to Burton. The athletic director also said that the assistant coaches will have the chance to interview with the next head coach after a hire is made.
Contact Michael Carvelli at 304-348-4810 or michael.carvelli@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @carvelli3.