Overview
- Oregon State announced Shephard as the 33rd head coach and the program’s first Black full-time hire.
- ESPN reports a five-year agreement, with a formal introduction set for Tuesday, Dec. 2, pending completion of university hiring processes.
- Shephard, 42, spent the past two seasons at Alabama as assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach after two years on Kalen DeBoer’s Washington staff that reached the 2023 national title game.
- He replaces Trent Bray, who was fired after an 0-7 start; the Beavers are 2-9 with interim Robb Akey leading Saturday’s finale at Washington State.
- Immediate tasks include retaining players as a 15-day transfer window opens in five days, assembling a staff, and rebuilding toward competition in a reconstituted Pac-12 starting in 2026.