The story of Wendy Anderson’s battle with breast cancer has captivated the college football world for the last few weeks, and it came to a tragic end today. Wendy’s husband, Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson, announced that his wife had passed away early this morning.
FINAL WENDY UPDATE 8/20#NotFightingAlone ❤️❤️❤️ there’s a celebration in heaven today cause Wendy is Home pic.twitter.com/OYwh0fQLpU
— Blake Anderson (@CHbanderson) August 20, 2019
Anderson was first diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer in 2017. She underwent treatment abroad and eventually made a full recovery, but a year later the cancer had returned. Prescribed antibiotics were unable to halt the cancer earlier this year, and it was announced that chemotherapy treatments over the summer had not worked either. Wendy and Blake have one daughter and two sons.
On Monday, Blake Anderson informed the school that he would be taking a leave of absence to be with his wife and family. There is no timetable on when he might return, but until then defensive coordinator David Duggan will be the school’s interim head coach.
The Arkansas State Athletics Department has issued the following statement from Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Terry Mohajir, announcing that head football coach Blake Anderson is taking a leave of absence. pic.twitter.com/EgRXQyAF4B
— Arkansas State Red Wolves Athletics (@AStateRedWolves) August 19, 2019
Anderson has led Arkansas State to a winning record and a bowl appearance in each of his five years in Jonesboro. The Red Wolves on the Sun Belt in 2015 and 2016 under his watch, and they are considered one of the favorites to win the Sun Belt West Division this season.
Arkansas State nearly toppled Nebraska on the road in 2017, and the Red Wolves were able to upend both Tulsa and UNLV last season. Anderson has made them one of the most dangerous mid-level programs in the country, but there are some things more important than football.
Duggan is entering his first season as defensive coordinator and he will now take on the added role of interim coach. Duggan was a position coach at Southern Miss, North Carolina, and Western Michigan before coming to Arkansas State, and he will look to hold the fort. The Red Wolves open their season at home against SMU on August 31.
