Alabama assistant agrees to terms for head coaching job
By David Wasson
Published:
Alabama Crimson Tide co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard is moving on from Tuscaloosa to Corvallis to take the head coaching job at Oregon State.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Friday morning that Shepard will receive a 5-year contract to coach the Beavers. Financial terms have not yet been disclosed. An official announcement from the school came shortly after Thamel’s report broke.
“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 a statement. “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 will be introduced at a press conference on Dec. 2.
Shephard, who also served as the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach for Alabama, previously worked at both Fresno State (2016) and Washington (2022-23) as an assistant on staff for Kalen DeBoer. He was part of the UW team that went to the 2024 College Football Playoff national title game.
Shephard will replace Trent Bray, who was fired by Oregon State in October with a 5-14 record in his second season. The Beavers 2-9 this season heading into Saturday’s season finale at Washington State (6:30 pm ET, The CW Network).
In 2025, Shephard has coached one of the country’s top wide receiving duos in Alabama’s Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams. He also mentored the best trio of wide receivers in college football in 2023 at Washington: Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan.
Shephard faces a challenge at Oregon State after the dissolution of the Pac-12 and the roster churn that has come with the Beavers competing outside of a major conference.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
