Brent Vigen set to stay at Montana State as Oregon State coaching search dwindles

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Montana State HC Brent Vigen is staying in Bozeman as Oregon State’s coaching search continues.

The Oregon State coaching search continues to draw closer and closer to an end, and on Wednesday, a major candidate in the coaching search was eliminated.

Montana State and head coach Brent Vigen announced Wednesday evening that Vigen is staying in Bozeman, a strong indication that the Beavers are opting to go a different route than the 50-year-old head coach of the Bobcats.

Vigen made it to the second round of interviews and was spotted flying into Portland on Sunday before deciding to stay in Bozeman.

Oregon State’s coaching search is currently in week six after the Beavers fired head coach Trent Bray on October 12, following a 39-14 loss to Wake Forest.

With Vigen staying at Montana State, signs would be favoring Alabama wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shepard as the next head coach of the Beavers.

The 42-year-old Shephard is an Indiana native with some experience on the West Coast and particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Though in recent days, the Beavers did show interest in former Cal head coach Justin Wilcox.

After starting his collegiate coaching career at Western Kentucky in 2011 through 2016, Shephard spent one season at Washington State in 2016 before heading to Purdue to be the Boilermakers’ pass-game coordinator and wide receivers coach. He also spent several seasons as the program’s co-offensive coordinator.

In 2022, he was hired by Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer to be the Huskies’ assistant head coach, pass game coordinator, and wide receivers coach. The Huskies’ wide receiver room flourished under his direction. When DeBoer was hired by the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2024, Shephard followed him to Tuscaloosa

Notable receivers that have excelled under his tutelage include Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams, David Bell, Rondale Moore, Rome Odunze, Jae’Lyn Polk, and Jalen McMilan.