Oregon State football has hired Alabama co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard as its next head coach, the school announced Friday.
The Beavers signal a new era by bringing in a coach with significant recruiting success who is a passionate speaker and motivator. Shephard has never been a head coach, but served as a high-level assistant under Kalen DeBoer at Washington and Alabama.
“I’m extremely excited to announce JaMarcus Shephard as the head coach of the Oregon State football program,” OSU athletic director Scott Barnes said in a release. “His character and persona are top-notch and genuine, which will make all of Beaver Nation proud. His values align perfectly as an exceptional leader who fosters a sincere connection with his student athletes. He has coached at the highest level, with stops in the Pacific Northwest, and I cannot wait to see him on the recruiting trail and leading our football program to immediate success.”
OSU and Shephard agreed to terms on a five-year deal, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who broke the news early Friday morning. He will be formally introduced at a press conference at noon on Tuesday.
According to multiple reports, the 42-year-old Shephard won over the OSU hiring committee with his impassioned plan for resetting the football program. And given his connections at the highest levels of college football, including on the West Coast, he could raise OSU’s recruiting standard and put together an experienced staff around him with a track record of success.
“I’m honored to lead the Oregon State University football program and to join a community that cares so deeply about its student-athletes,” Shephard said in the release. “We will build a culture rooted in toughness, integrity, and relentless effort, and I’m excited to get to work with our players, staff, and supporters to write the next great chapter of Beaver football.”
Shephard — originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana — played wide receiver for Division III DePauw University from 2001 to 2004. He is the first Black head coach hired by Oregon State football in its history. Cory Hall (2017) and Kefense Hynson (2023) both served in interim roles for the Beavers.
Shephard got his start in coaching at the high school level in his home state before collegiate stops at Western Kentucky, Washington State, Purdue, Washington and Alabama.
An offensive-minded coach with a breadth of experience specifically with elite wide receivers, Shephard served as the passing game coordinator and co-offensive coordinator at Purdue and as both an assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator at Washington and Alabama. Washington had the No. 2 passing offense in the country and scored 36 points per game in 2023 on their way to an appearance in the CFP national championship game.
Shephard recruited five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams to Alabama in 2024, and previously coached All-American wideout Rome Odunze at Washington.
As is often the case in the transfer portal era when a new coach is hired, Shephard could bring some of his former players at Alabama or Washington with him to Corvallis. He will also be tasked with retaining current OSU players: under new NCAA rules, a 15-day transfer window will open in five days for the Beavers.
OSU is 2-9 this season and fired second-year head coach Trent Bray following an 0-7 start. Interim coach Robb Akey will lead the Beavers into their finale Saturday on the road at Washington State, while Shephard will take over the program as it transitions into the new Pac-12 ahead of the 2026 season.
Oregon State (2-9) at Washington State (5-6)
- When: Saturday, Nov. 29
- Time: 3:30 p.m. PT
- Where: Martin Stadium — Pullman, Wash.
- TV channel: The CW
- Stream: You can watch this game on DIRECTV (free trial), or with Fubo (free trial). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.
