Oregon State's Wayne Tinkle Retires After 12 Seasons

Longtime Beavers coach says he's 'not done by a long shot' after coaching final game

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Wayne Tinkle, the head coach of the Oregon State men's basketball team, has announced his retirement after 12 seasons with the program. Tinkle led the Beavers to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and leaves the team with a record of 190-160 during his tenure.

Why it matters

Tinkle's departure marks the end of an era for Oregon State basketball, as he was the longest-tenured coach in the Pac-12 Conference. His teams made the NCAA Tournament twice and he was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2016, helping to rebuild the program after years of struggles.

The details

Tinkle announced his retirement following Oregon State's loss in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals. He said he is 'not done by a long shot' and plans to pursue other opportunities, though he did not specify what those might be.

  • Tinkle announced his retirement on March 10, 2026 after Oregon State's season ended.
  • Tinkle spent 12 seasons as the head coach of the Oregon State men's basketball team from 2014 to 2026.

The players

Wayne Tinkle

The former head coach of the Oregon State men's basketball team, who retired after 12 seasons with the program.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not done by a long shot. I'm excited about the next chapter and what the future holds.”

— Wayne Tinkle, Former Head Coach, Oregon State Men's Basketball (Herald)

What’s next

Oregon State will now begin a search for Tinkle's replacement as the new head coach of the men's basketball team.

The takeaway

Tinkle's retirement marks the end of a successful 12-year run as Oregon State's head coach, during which he helped rebuild the program and led the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances.