Alex Gerke is leaving the Hawaii football team's coaching staff to take a job at Utah State.

By joining the staff being assembled by new Utah State head coach Gary Andersen, Gerke will remain in the Western Athletic Conference after a year spent coaching the Warriors running backs and offensive line.

“;One of his best friends got the job there. As long as he's happy, that's the main thing,”; Hawaii coach Greg McMackin said. “;He did a good job for us and I wish him the best.”;

Gerke's latest move takes him back to Utah, where played in college and coached at Weber State for two seasons prior to his stint at UH.

Gerke's departure after one season at UH leaves a vacancy on Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin's staff. McMackin said he will fill the spot after the Warriors are finished with recruiting.

The Warriors completed a 7-7 season with a loss to Notre Dame in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Wednesday.

Andersen, who is finishing the season as Utah's defensive coordinator in the Sugar Bowl, recently hired Baldwin graduate and former Bears head coach Chad Kauha'aha'a to lead the Aggies' defensive line. Kauha'aha'a spent the last four years at Weber State.

Gerke is no stranger to facing a former employer. He moved to Hawaii after two seasons at Weber State, which lost to the Warriors at Aloha Stadium in September.