ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson resigns

Arizona State University Athletic Director Ray Anderson has resigned with three years left in his contract.

Many ASU athletic supporters had been calling for his resignation, which he formally announced on Nov. 13, 2023.

News of his departure came 30 minutes before head football coach Kenny Dillingham was scheduled to give his weekly briefing with the media.

For more on this, we welcomed Michelle Gardner, ASU sports reporter for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com.

“I didn’t think he would resign, and with three years left of his contract. I didn’t think he would leave that much money on the table,” Gardner said.

One factor could be an NCAA investigation into recruiting allegations that has yet to be resolved. The hiring of Herm Edwards went terribly wrong. The two had a long connection, with Anderson having served as Edwards’ agent in his NFL playing days.

“When you look at the state of the arena, what he’s done with the football program, and how far that’s fallen off,” Gardner said, “I think one of the biggest problems the fanbase has is that Herm Edwards was paid $4.4 million to walk away.”

Anderson will remain as a professor of practice and senior advisor for the sports law and business program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.