Brandon Andersen enters his first season with the Mavericks and will take over as the defensive coordinator for the 2020 season.
Anderson comes to CMU after spending three seasons with the Lions of Lindenwood as the team’s linebacker coach. He coached a strong core of linebackers, as Lindenwood allowed the fewest yards since the 2013 season. The Lions allowed just 385.3 yards per game, the best mark for the Lions in the last eight years. Andersen played a strong role in the success of Drew Seers and CJ Bivens. Seers was named third-team all-MIAA, while Bivens was named honorable-mention all-MIAA.
In his first season at Lindenwood, Andersen oversaw a linebackers unit that returned no starters from the previous season. His linebackers played a key role in the team’s defense allowing 27.2 points a game, 7.2 points fewer than the previous year. It was the first time since the 2012 season that Lindenwood allowed fewer than 30 points a game for the season. Lindenwood’s linebackers helped the Lions improve across the board statistically, including allowing over 100 fewer yards per game.
Andersen helped true freshman Drew Seers be named the team’s Newcomer of the Year. Seers, CJ Bivens, and Nate Blanchard all ranked among the team’s top-five tackles for the season.
Prior to his time at Lindenwood, Anderson served as the linebackers coach for University of Sioux Falls from 2012-2016. He was also the recruiting coordinator for his final three seasons in Sioux Falls.
Andersen played a big role in Sioux Falls’ defensive success. In the span of three seasons, the Cougars sported a 32-5 record and advanced to three postseason appearances. The 2016 squad, which was ranked in the top-five nationally, won the NSIC Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
In 2016, Andersen coached a linebacker core that earned First Team All NSIC, Second-Team All-NSIC and Honorable Mention All- Conference recognition. In all he has coached seven all-conference performers.
Andersen was a four-year linebacker at Sioux Falls from 2008-2011. He was a two-year starter, and tallied 87 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and four sacks throughout his career. From 2008-2010, Andersen helped Sioux Falls to 34-1, advance to three NAIA National Championship games, and win two NAIA National Championships.
Andersen received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Sioux Falls in 2011.
