Michigan Assistant Justin Joyner Named Oregon State's New Head Coach

Joyner departs Michigan after two seasons to take over Beavers program

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

Oregon State University has hired Michigan assistant Justin Joyner as its next head basketball coach. Joyner replaces Wayne Tinkle, who led the program for 12 seasons before being let go. Joyner arrives in Corvallis after two seasons under head coach Dusty May at the University of Michigan, where he helped lead a significant turnaround for the Wolverines.

Why it matters

Joyner's hiring represents a significant move for Oregon State as they look to rebuild their men's basketball program. His experience at Michigan and Saint Mary's should provide a strong foundation to build upon the Beavers' recent success, which included an Elite Eight run in 2021 under Tinkle.

The details

Prior to his time at Michigan, Joyner spent seven seasons at Saint Mary's working under head coach Randy Bennett, where the Gaels achieved a 171-60 record and made four NCAA tournament appearances. Joyner is a California native who played college basketball at UC Santa Barbara.

  • Joyner spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan.
  • Tinkle led the Oregon State program for 12 seasons, which included two NCAA tournament appearances.

The players

Justin Joyner

The new head coach of the Oregon State men's basketball team, who previously served as an assistant at Michigan and Saint Mary's.

Wayne Tinkle

The former head coach of the Oregon State men's basketball team, who led the program for 12 seasons before being let go.

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan men's basketball team, under whom Joyner served as an assistant for the past two seasons.

Randy Bennett

The head coach of the Saint Mary's men's basketball team, under whom Joyner served as an assistant for seven seasons.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're excited to welcome Justin Joyner as our new head coach. His experience and success at the highest levels of college basketball make him the perfect fit to lead our program forward.”

— Oregon State Athletic Director (9and10news.com)

What’s next

Joyner will be formally introduced as Oregon State's new head coach at a press conference on Monday, March 14th.

The takeaway

Joyner's hiring represents a fresh start for the Oregon State men's basketball program, as they look to build on their recent success and return to the NCAA tournament under new leadership.