In a surprising move, Ray Anderson, the athletic director at Arizona State University, has announced his resignation with three years remaining on his contract. The decision comes after Anderson faced criticism for his hiring of Herm Edwards as the head football coach, which ultimately led to recruiting violations and Edwards' departure during the 2022 season.

Anderson's resignation is effective immediately, marking the end of his tenure at Arizona State. The news was reported by Michelle Gardner of the Arizona Republic, who highlighted the mounting pressure on Anderson following the recruiting violations that were traced back to former ASU assistant and current interim Raiders coach, Antonio Pierce.

The controversy surrounding Anderson's leadership extends beyond the football program. Arizona State University recently announced its departure from the Pac-12 conference to join the Big 12 in 2024. In light of this, Anderson, in response to the move, made a vow not to attend any games in Morgantown, the home of West Virginia University.

Prior to his role as athletic director, Anderson had an extensive career in the sports world. Starting as an agent, he later joined the Atlanta Falcons as a part of their executive team from 2002 to 2006. In 2013, Anderson made the transition to the league office before taking on the position of athletic director at Arizona State.

Anderson's departure from Arizona State University leaves a void to be filled in the athletic department. The university will now face the challenge of finding a suitable replacement who can bring stability and address the ongoing issues within the football program.

As the news of Anderson's resignation spreads, many will be closely monitoring the developments at Arizona State to see how the university navigates this latest setback and works towards restoring its reputation within the college sports community.