Oregon State has just made a significant change. After parting ways with coach Trent Bray back in October, the Beavers have found a new leader: JaMarcus Shephard from Alabama.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel shared the news that Oregon State has agreed to a five-year contract with Shephard, who was previously the assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator, and wide receivers coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide. This will be Shephard’s first head coaching role.
Thamel noted, “Sources: Oregon State has agreed to terms on a five-year deal to make Alabama co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard their next coach.” CBS Sports first mentioned Shephard as a candidate on Thanksgiving, and just a day later, a deal was struck.
Shephard has a wealth of experience in college football, dating back to 2011. He started as a quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at Western Kentucky, working under well-known coaches like Willie Taggart and Bobby Petrino. After a stint at Washington State with Mike Leach, he returned to Purdue. There, he served as a receivers coach and eventually as co-offensive coordinator. Most recently, he made his mark at Alabama under Kalen DeBoer.
Oregon State has faced challenges, especially after firing Bray following a rough start to the season. The team had a disappointing record of 0-7 and ended up at just 5-14 (.263) over Bray’s time. Robb Akey stepped in as interim coach and has helped the Beavers post a 2-2 record since taking over.
Shephard’s new role presents both risks and opportunities. Oregon State has been a bit of an independent player in the college football scene after the Pac-12 reshuffle. They’ll return to the league next fall, following the addition of seven new schools, six of which will field football teams. Competing outside the Power Four may still present challenges, but this position could be a stepping stone for Shephard.
His first head coaching position comes at a time when college football is evolving rapidly. Addressing the uniqueness of this opportunity, Shephard’s experience with powerhouses like Alabama should give him a solid foundation. It’ll be interesting to see how he navigates this transition in his coaching career and how Oregon State evolves under his leadership.
As Shephard steps into this role, many fans and analysts are eager to see how he will shape the future of the Beavers. With the constant changes in college football and the realignment of conferences, there’s a lot at stake for both Shephard and Oregon State.
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JaMarcus Shephard
