Oregon State finally has its new leader, and the Beavers went straight for one of the fastest-rising names in the Power Five. Alabama co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard is set to become the program’s next head coach, marking his first time running a team and closing out a search that moved quickly once Thanksgiving week arrived. The deal is for five years, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, and locks in an offensive mind who has been tied to success everywhere he’s coached.
Per Thamel’s post, “Sources: Oregon State has agreed to terms on a five-year deal to make Alabama co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard as the school’s next coach. Shephard is also Alabama’s assistant head coach and wide receiver coach. CBS first reported him as a target.”
Sources: Oregon State has agreed to terms on a five-year deal to make Alabama co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard as the school’s next coach. Shephard is also Alabama’s assistant head coach and wide receiver coach. CBS first reported him as target. pic.twitter.com/OBIk6SRnw6
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 28, 2025
Oregon State Picks JaMarcus Shephard as Their Main Offensive Leader
Oregon State’s interest in Shephard didn’t appear out of nowhere. He was one of the first names linked to the vacancy, and CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported on Thanksgiving that the Beavers were “targeting” the Alabama assistant. Shephard and Montana State head coach Brent Vigen were viewed as the final two serious candidates. Vigen ended the speculation on Wednesday afternoon, releasing a statement that reaffirmed his commitment to Montana State and effectively cleared the path.
Once Vigen stepped aside, Shephard became the clear front-runner, and Oregon State closed the deal.
A spokesperson for the school did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but multiple outlets reported that a hire and formal announcement were “imminent.” The timing aligns with how Oregon State has operated during past transitions: quiet until the last minute, then decisive.
Shepherd’s resume is full of diverse roles at top programs. Since teaming up with Kalen DeBoer back in Washington, he stuck around when DeBoer moved in 2022. His work helped shape an offense that ranked third nationally in passing, averaging nearly 344 yards per game. That attack propelled the Huskies into the 2023 playoffs; they took down Texas in the semifinals, then faced Michigan in the title matchup.
When DeBoer moved to Alabama, Shepard followed. He retained the same responsibilities as co-offensive coordinator, receivers coach, and assistant head coach, and remained heavily involved in game planning and personnel management. His work with wideouts earned national praise long before that. Apart from that, he became the National Wide Receivers Coach of the Year in 2023.
His track record extends beyond the last few seasons. Shephard served as Purdue’s co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach from 2018 to 2021, helping develop multiple NFL-caliber pass catchers and assisting in one of the program’s most productive offensive stretches. Before that, he coached the position at Washington State during the Mike Leach era in 2016. His first break in the FBS ranks came at Western Kentucky as a graduate assistant in 2011.
The Beavers were drawn to that mix, play design, player development, and familiarity with modern spacing concepts. Oregon State’s offense has shifted over the years, and the roster now leans younger with spots that need immediate identity. Bringing in a coach with a proven plan for receivers and vertical passing gives the team a different edge than it has shown recently.
The timing of the hire also reflects the program’s current status. The conference landscape has changed, roster movement is constant, and maintaining stability is more complex. Oregon State chose someone who can recruit, someone who can connect, and someone who has been inside high-pressure playoff rooms.
It isn’t a conservative hire. It’s forward-facing. It’s aggressive. And it signals that the Beavers aren’t looking to hang onto the past, they’re building around speed, precision, and a voice players already respect.
JaMarcus Shephard fit that vision from day one.
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