LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 07: Head coach Gary Andersen of the Oregon State Beavers on the sidelines during the first half of the game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Fired Pac-12 head coach has officially found a new home

He resigned halfway through the 2017 season.

Former Oregon State head coach Gary Andersen is returning to Utah for his third stint as an assistant coach with the Utes.

Andersen was named an Associate Head Coach and Defensive Assistant by head coach Kyle Whittingham. He previously served as defensive line coach, defensive coordinator and Associate Head Coach from 2004 through 2008. He was also an assistant from 1997-2002, and he finished his playing career with the Utes.

Related: Group of 5 school could be adding a former head coach as a coordinator

"We're looking forward to Gary rejoining our staff," Whittingham said via UtahUtes.com. "Gary brings a wealth of high-level coaching experience to the program, including serving as the head coach at two Power Five schools. During his previous time on our staff, he developed some of the best defensive linemen in Utah history. In addition, he is an excellent recruiter and motivator and understands what it takes to win at this level."

Andersen turned his assistant position at Utah into a head coaching job at Utah State in 2009, and he coached the Aggies for four seasons. He parlayed that job into being the head coach at Wisconsin, but he surprisingly left there after only two seasons for Oregon State.

Andersen resigned halfway through his third season following a 1-5 start with the Beavers, but he's back in familiar territory under Whittingham with Utah.