Report: Oregon State hiring Alabama's Shephard as coach

Oregon State is hiring Alabama's co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard as its next head coach, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.

The two sides have agreed on a five-year deal, Thamel adds.

Shephard also holds the titles of assistant head coach and wide receivers coach with the Crimson Tide.

Shephard followed Kellen DeBoer to Alabama in 2024 after serving as Washington's assistant head coach and wide receivers coach from 2022-23. He was previously Purdue's wide receivers coach from 2017-21 before joining DeBoer's staff in 2022.

The 42-year-old has coached some of the best wide receivers in the country in recent years, including Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Ja'Lynn Polk, Germie Bernard, and Ryan Williams.

Shephard will take over an Oregon State program that's currently 2-9. They fired head coach Trent Bray in October after a 5-14 run in two seasons at the helm. Rob Akey has held the interim title since Bray's dismissal and has gone 2-2 in four games.