Blake Anderson comes to Southern Miss after spending last season at Louisiana-Lafayette as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

The Cajuns posted the No. 6 rated rushing offense nationally (251.6) in 2007 and became the Sun Belt's first ever 3,000-yard rushing team (3,019). The team averaged a Sun Belt-record 5.6 yards per carry en route to producing two 1,000-yard rushers. UL ran for 250 yards or more in seven games and scored at least one rushing touchdown in all but one contest.

Anderson, who was in private business from 2004-2006, previously worked at Middle Tennessee, where he helped direct an offensive unit as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2002-04. During his time with the Blue Raiders, the team led the Sun Belt in scoring offense during the 2003 season and ranked 15th nationally in passing offense during the 2004 campaign. His 2003 team averaged 27.7 points per game, generating 42 total touchdowns. In 2004, his MTSU passing attack averaged 267.7 yards per game.

Anderson spent three seasons at New Mexico before landing at MTSU. He served as the wide receivers coach in 2001 and running backs coach from 1999-2000. The UNM rushing attack was 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 FCS ranks at New Mexico. 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.

A two-year letterwinner at wide receiver for Sam Houston State from 1989-91, Anderson 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.

Anderson, and wife Wendy, have one daughter, Callie, and two sons, Coleton and Cason.