Oregon State University’s men’s and women’s basketball programs received a transformative boost this year, thanks to a $3 million donation from Joth Ricci, a leader in the beverage industry and a longtime supporter of OSU athletics.
Joth Ricci, born in Corvallis, Oregon, fondly recalls numerous games with his father and grandfather.
“Whether it was football, or baseball, or basketball, or track or whatever was going on at the time, we always found our way to campus,” said Ricci.
Ricci, a 1991 OSU graduate with a degree in education, represents the third generation of his family to attend the university. They are Beavers through and through, with his children continuing the legacy and becoming fourth-generation Beavers.
With a career marked by leadership roles at Jones Soda and Columbia Distributing, Ricci is well-recognized in Oregon’s business community. However, he may be best known for his five years as CEO of Dutch Bros Coffee, a position that amplified his influence in business.
Anna Ricci, Joth Ricci’s daughter, recalls his dedication to education and cultural exposure for her and her younger brother.
She also shares how her father once aspired to be a basketball coach but, following a career-defining opportunity with Johnson & Johnson, chose a different path in business, which redirected his life.
“We have this opportunity to create something impactful for hundreds of more years to come,” Anna Ricci said. “Seeing the way that (OSU) continues to grow and investing in … opportunities for growth is just a special thing.”
The Ricci family’s connection to OSU and appreciation for the university’s growth have made this latest donation especially meaningful for them.
“The memories of basketball and what it did for me growing up, what it’s meant to our family over the years — from enjoyment, and sport, and fun and all we’ve learned from it — it was important for us to do that,” said Joth Ricci.
He said that a “great university should be continuing to grow and change and adapt to what it needs to do to attract and create great student experiences.”
This $3 million donation marks Ricci’s largest gift to date, structured as an endowment that will provide equal ongoing support to both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, ensuring resources for long-term success.
“We felt like both programs were equally important,” Ricci said. “We wanted to create an endowment so the program would always have extra dollars flowing into it. We could enhance it for years to come.”
For the women’s team, previously playing in the Pac-12, and now transitioning to the West Coast Conference, the donation will reinforce the program’s ability to remain competitive. The men’s team, currently rebuilding, also benefits from the timely support, expected to accelerate its progress.
With more resources at their disposal, both teams are now better equipped for recruitment, improving player development and enhancing the overall student-athlete experience.
Ricci’s contributions extend beyond athletics; he is also a key figure in the College of Business where he advises on strategy and governance and chairs the student-led Snow Planks Academy at OSU-Cascades.
Ricci emphasized the value of experiential learning, explaining that some lessons cannot be taught in a classroom and are best learned through first-hand experience. This allows students to truly grow and develop.
Ricci encourages students to embrace their paths with open minds: “Don’t over-orchestrate who you are and what you want to be … understand there will be pluses and minuses along the way.”