Oregon State Hires Michigan Assistant Justin Joyner as New Head Coach

Joyner replaces Wayne Tinkle, who led the Beavers for 12 seasons

Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:55am

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Oregon State has hired Michigan assistant Justin Joyner as its new head men's basketball coach, replacing Wayne Tinkle who is departing the program after 12 seasons. Joyner, 38, previously spent seven seasons as an assistant at Saint Mary's and is married to the women's soccer coach at Oregon.

Why it matters

The move to hire Joyner comes as Oregon State looks to build momentum and an upward trajectory for its basketball program, especially with the school's upcoming transition to the new Pac-12 conference. Joyner is seen as a rising coaching talent with strong recruiting and player development skills.

The details

Joyner will take over a Beavers program that went 17-16 and 9-9 in the West Coast Conference this past season, falling in the semifinals of the conference tournament. Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes cited Joyner's "unmatched commitment, passion and energy" as key factors in the hiring, along with his strong pedigree having coached under some of the nation's best coaches.

  • On Feb. 26, Oregon State announced it planned to part ways with former head coach Wayne Tinkle at the end of the 2025-26 season.
  • The Beavers' season ended on March 10, 2026 with a 65-56 loss to Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference tournament semifinals.

The players

Justin Joyner

The 38-year-old is the new head coach of the Oregon State men's basketball team, previously serving as an assistant at Michigan and Saint Mary's.

Wayne Tinkle

The former Oregon State head coach, who led the Beavers for 12 seasons and took them to the Elite Eight in 2021.

Scott Barnes

The Oregon State athletic director who cited Joyner's "unmatched commitment, passion and energy" as key factors in the hiring.

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What they’re saying

“It is vitally important that we create momentum and an upward trajectory for this program. Our move to the new Pac-12 demands a leader like Justin who has an unmatched commitment, passion and energy. Justin will build a men's basketball program all of Beaver Nation will be proud of.”

— Scott Barnes, Oregon State Athletic Director

“I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to coach Oregon State men's basketball. Joining an athletic department that aligns with my beliefs and values is a dream come true.”

— Justin Joyner

What’s next

Joyner will begin assembling his coaching staff and recruiting players to build the Beavers program ahead of their transition to the new Pac-12 conference.

The takeaway

Oregon State's hiring of the up-and-coming Justin Joyner as its new head coach signals the program's intent to build momentum and competitiveness as it prepares to join the revamped Pac-12 conference, banking on Joyner's strong recruiting and player development skills to elevate the Beavers.