Oregon State Football Coach Reacts to Barnes' Retirement

Shephard shares what he wants in the program's next leader after Barnes' surprise announcement.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:43am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes in the official colors of Oregon State University's football team, representing the transition of leadership in the program.The unexpected retirement of Oregon State's longtime football coach sets the stage for a new era of Beavers football under the leadership of JaMarcus Shephard.Corvallis Today

JaMarcus Shephard, the new head football coach at Oregon State University, has reacted to the unexpected retirement announcement of his predecessor, Scott Barnes. Shephard, who was hired in late November, says he discussed Barnes' retirement plans during the interview process, but the timing of the announcement came as a surprise. Shephard is now focused on finding the right person to lead the program forward.

Why it matters

The transition of leadership in a major college football program can have significant implications for the team, the university, and the local community. Shephard's reaction and vision for the next Oregon State coach will be closely watched as the school looks to maintain momentum and continue building a successful program.

The details

Shephard said he had discussed Barnes' eventual retirement plans when interviewing for the head coaching job at Oregon State, but the timing of the announcement still came as a surprise. Barnes had been the head coach of the Beavers since 2020 and led the team to a 7-5 record and a bowl game appearance last season. Shephard is now tasked with finding the right person to take over the program and continue its upward trajectory.

  • Barnes announced his retirement on April 1, 2026.
  • Shephard was hired as the new head coach in late November 2025.

The players

JaMarcus Shephard

The new head football coach at Oregon State University, hired in late 2025 to lead the program.

Scott Barnes

The former head football coach at Oregon State University, who announced his retirement in April 2026 after leading the team since 2020.

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What they’re saying

“I had discussed Scott's eventual retirement plans with him during the interview process, but the timing of the announcement still caught me by surprise.”

— JaMarcus Shephard, Head Football Coach, Oregon State University

What’s next

Oregon State will now begin a search for its next head football coach, with Shephard playing a key role in identifying and evaluating candidates to lead the program.

The takeaway

The transition of leadership in a major college football program can have significant implications, and Shephard's reaction and vision for the next Oregon State coach will be closely watched as the school looks to maintain momentum and continue building a successful program.