Lance Anderson begins his second season as the head coach of the Utah Tech University football program.
Coach Anderson was introduced as the fifth head coach in the program's NCAA era on December 8, 2023. Anderson joined the Trailblazer football program after serving as an offensive senior analyst at Boise State during the 2023 season.
Prior to his brief stint at Boise State, Anderson spent 16 seasons on the football staff at Stanford University
from 2007-22, the last nine which with the Cardinal he was the Willie Shaw Director of Defense.
He served as defensive line coach at Stanford under then-head coach, and current Los Angeles Chargers head coach, Jim Harbaugh from 2007-09. Anderson then spent 13 seasons as the outside linebackers coach, and in 2018 was elevated to associate head coach by then-head coach David Shaw (2011-22). He also served as interim head coach following Shaw’s resignation at the end of the 2022.
During his time at Stanford, Anderson was part of one of the most successful eras in the history of Cardinal football, a history that included three PAC-12 championships, five New Year’s Six bowl games, 10 consecutive bowl game appearances overall, and the winningest decade in program history (2010-2019).
Anderson’s work on the admissions and recruiting front has been noteworthy. He has received considerable praise for his work as the program’s liaison to the Stanford Admission Office during his tenure, and as Stanford’s Recruiting Coordinator from 2007-2011.
He has played an instrumental role in the Cardinal landing numerous nationally ranked recruiting classes, including the 2012 class ranked 5th in the nation, the 2014 class ranked 9th, the 2016 class ranked 8th, the 2017 class ranked 11th, and the 2022 class which was ranked 11th. He was named 2012 Recruiter of the Year by
Scout.com, and was ranked as one of the top recruiters, both in the PAC-12 and nationally, by
Rivals.com.
Anderson was the architect of Stanford’s vaunted defense that has ranked among the best defensive units in the PAC-12 and the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.
Throughout his tenure as defensive coordinator, Anderson’s defense ranked inside the top-38 nationally in total defense and scoring defense five consecutive seasons, highlighted by the 2014 campaign which included the No. 2-ranked scoring defense, No. 3-ranked total defense, and was ranked fifth-nationally in sacks per game.
Following the conclusion of the 2014 season, Anderson was a finalist for the Broyles Award, an award given to the best assistant coach in college football.
Anderson consistently produced NFL talent from the defensive side of the ball, including Solomon Thomas (highest drafted defensive player in Stanford program history), Bobby Okereke, Casey Toohill, Harrison Phillips, Justin Reid, Paulson Adebo, Peter Kalambayi, Quenton Meeks, Brennen Scarlett, Jordan Richards, Trent Murphy, Blake Martinez, Thomas Booker, Henry Anderson, David Perry, Josh Mauro, James Vaughters, Michael Thomas, Alex Carter, Curtis Robinson and Alijah Holder.
Prior to his time at Stanford, Anderson coached the defensive line and served as recruiting coordinator under Harbaugh at the University of San Diego from 2005-06. He helped lead the Toreros to a 22-2 overall record, along with two Pioneer League Championships, and a 2006 Division 1-AA Mid-Major national championship.
While at USD, Anderson mentored 2006 co-Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Year, Eric Bakhtiari, who went on to play five seasons in the NFL.
Anderson began his coaching career at his alma mater, Idaho State, where he spent two seasons from 1997-98. Then after one season with the Mobile Admirals (1999) of the Regional Football League, he returned to college football with stops Bucknell (1999-2002), Saint Mary’s (2003) and Utah State (2004), before his time at USD.
A native of Rupert, Idaho, Anderson played two seasons as a walk-on linebacker at Idaho State in 1993-94, and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1997. He and his wife, Sherri, are the parents of three children – Aubrey, Jaren and Braden.
The Anderson File
Coaching Career
2024-current: Utah Tech –
Head Football Coach
2023: Boise State –
Senior Offensive Analyst
2007-22: Stanford University –
2007-09 – Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator; 2010-13 – Outside Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator; 2014-17 – Willie Shaw Director of Defense/Outside Linebackers; 2018-22 – Associate Head Coach/Willie Shaw Director of Defense/Outside Linebackers; November 2022-December 2022 – Interim Head Coach
2005-06: University of San Diego –
Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
2004: Utah State –
Outside Linebackers
2003: Saint Mary’s –
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
1999-2002: Bucknell –
1999 – Tight Ends/Assistant Offensive Line; 2000 - Tight Ends/Assistant Offensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator; 2001-02 – Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
1999: Mobile Admirals (Regional Football League) –
Running Backs
1997-98: Idaho State – 1997 –
Running Backs; 1998 - Tight Ends/Assistant Offensive Line
Playing Experience
1993-94: Idaho State –
Walk-on Linebacker
1989: BYU –
Walk-on
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Idaho State 1997
Personal
Hometown: Rupert, Idaho
Wife: Sherri
Children: Aubrey, Jaren and Braden
What his peers say about Coach Anderson:
"Lance Anderson is one of the best people I've ever worked with. He is a family man of high character and great values. On top of that, he is a tireless recruiter, an intellectual strategist, a fierce competitor, and a natural leader."
– David Shaw, former Stanford University Head Football Coach (2011-22)
“Lance Anderson is an outstanding person, football coach, and friend. Utah Tech has hit a home run with the hiring of Lance. He is one of the top recruiters in the nation and a well-respected defensive strategist. I’m excited to see Lance achieve his goal of becoming a head football coach.”
– Ed Lamb, Northern Colorado Head Football Coach (2022-current)
