Are you a Brayliever?

Oregon State defensive coordinator Trent Bray has been named the new head football coach for the Oregon State Beavers on Tuesday evening.

Bray previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Beavers and a former linebacker for Oregon State (2002-2005). Bray ranks sixth at Oregon State in career tackles.

Bray’s hiring comes as former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith was hired to fill the head coaching vacancy at Michigan State following the end of the Beavers’ 2023 season. 

Smith will take several staff members and coaches from Oregon State to East Lansing. The coaches that will join Smith include running back coach Keith Bhonapha, offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, offensive line coach Jim Michalczik, tight end coach Brian Wozniak, and defensive back coach Blue Adams.

Former OSU staff that will join Smith include chief of staff and director of football operations Dan Van De Riet, director of player operations Cole Moore, and head football strength and conditioning coach Mike McDonald.  

Following Smith’s departure wide receivers coach Kefense Hynson was named as the interim head coach for the Beavers.

Smith had planned on bringing Bray with him to East Lansing according to Justin Thind, a Michigan State reporter for 247Sports. Hynson assumed the interim position to maintain stability and continuity on the football team.

Bray started his coaching career at Arizona State as a graduate assistant from 2009-2011, he previously served as linebackers coach for the Beavers from 2012-14 under former OSU head coach Mike Riley and served as linebackers and assistant coach at Nebraska from 2015-2017.

Bray briefly served as interim head coach when Riley was relieved of his duties as head coach, before coming back to Corvallis.

The team announced Interim head coach Kefense Hynson will maintain his role through the Beavers’ bowl game set to be announced Dec. 3.