Breaking from tradition of family hires, Beavers should aim to become “Launchpad U” with charismatic Alabama assistant.
CORVALLIS — The first person JaMarcus Shephard thanked when he was introduced as Oregon State’s new football coach was not athletic director Scott Barnes.
It was not OSU President Jayathi Murthy.
It was not even one of the slick-haired representatives of the head-hunting firm DHR Global who sat in the front row of his press conference.
No, it was his 4-year-old daughter, Maliyah.
“I can truly say I’m honored to be your father,” he said, looking intently at the little girl, “because you jump into my arms every single day.”
Then he thanked 12-year-old Alana for helping him prep with mock interview questions and 14-year-old Jaylan for telling him that he wants to grow up to be like him.
I’ve seen plenty of new coaches thank their families before. It’s part of the stock welcome speech. But I’ve never seen one start with the smallest people in the room and express gratitude in such a real and, frankly, kind way.
Today, it seems like the Beavers got a good one.
Maybe even a great one.
Shephard oozed authenticity in his first appearance as OSU’s new head coach, representing everything the Beavers need after such a devastating turn over the last few years. He spoke about discipline and national recruiting. He expressed a deep belief in Oregon State.
“We want to achieve excellence in everything we do,” he said. “Because I believe this: How you do anything is how you do everything.”
Shephard is energetic, charismatic and determined. He will inspire players and fans. He will sell OSU to recruits.
And you know what?
He may just up and leave.
That’s one thing Oregon State cannot be afraid of.
In this age of college football, the greatest thing Shephard could achieve in Corvallis is raise his profile to a level where he is in demand elsewhere.
If Shephard proves to be the star Barnes believes him to be, if he is as adept at winning games as he is at winning press conferences, then OSU will not be his last stop. And given the annual turnover throughout this silly and delusional sport, there will be openings at larger programs that should appeal to Shephard.
Losing their new coach means that the Beavers have won.
It could be a year from now, two years or even three. But the next evolution for Oregon State as it navigates these unprecedented times is having a realistic understanding of its place in the food chain. I think that is underway, and Shephard’s hiring suggests that Barnes gets it, too.
If the Beavers wanted someone who would love them forever and saw OSU as his forever job, I suspect they would have hired a safe choice like Paul Chryst. Or even Montana State’s Brent Vigen.
With rare exception, forever jobs no longer exist. Great coaches still get canned and the money can become so inflated that staying in a place you have it good would be financially irresponsible.
I could be wrong about this, but it feels like Shephard is at the beginning of a steep ascent in the world of college coaching. His next job could be in the Big Ten or the SEC.
With the platform of a head coaching gig in the revamped Pac-12, Shephard will become a visible national figure. With his connections and a little success in Corvallis, he will be irresistible to athletic directors elsewhere.
Barnes should help him pack his bags when that time comes. Because sending Shephard onto bigger things will only strengthen OSU’s reputation and appeal to other coaches looking for that extra polish and seasoning.
No objection here if Shephard has success and wants to build a long legacy in Corvallis. But that’s rarely the way of modern football and it’s OK to admit that.
Oregon State has so long operated with an Us Against The World mentality that embracing life as a stepping-stone program would previously have been unimaginable. That’s why things have been kept in the family for so long. Why Mike Riley was hired back in 2003, why Jonathan Smith was such a logical choice in 2018 and why Trent Bray offered the illusion of security two years ago.
That kind of insular plotting wouldn’t get the Beavers anywhere in 2025 and beyond.
OSU needs to think beyond Lunchpail U. and embrace life as Launchpad U.
Shephard represents a break from a tired tradition, and that’s what makes his arrival exciting — although if his pregame speeches are anything like his introductory press conference the Beavers may never win a game. They’ll have to forfeit for never making it onto the field.
He is a man who has a lot to say and even more to do. The early national signing day is Wednesday and Shephard was on a plane back to Tuscaloosa on Tuesday to help 10th-ranked Alabama prepare for Saturday’s SEC championship game against No. 4 Georgia.
Neither Shephard nor Barnes would say whether the new coach would finish out the season with Alabama if the Crimson Tide reaches the College Football Playoff, or whether he would peel off to get to work at OSU.
“I’m about doing the right thing for people,” Shephard said, “so we’ll figure out what that looks like so everybody feels comfortable.”
The last two years have been anything but comfortable for Beaver fans. They’ve been agonizing and angst-ridden.
Shephard’s arrival signals stability and hope, just like his departure would signal that the Beavers are back.
