An era of Oregon State basketball has come to an end.
Oregon State University announced Thursday that it is parting ways with longtime Head Coach Wayne Tinkle, closing a 12-year chapter that included historic highs and challenging rebuilding seasons for the Beavers.
A statement was released on the Oregon State Men’s Basketball website, where Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes stated:
“We are grateful to Wayne for his dedication to Oregon State and for the leadership he has provided our men’s basketball program. He has represented Beaver Nation with integrity and commitment. As we approach the dawn of the new Pac-12 era, we believe it is in the best interest of our men’s basketball program to transition to its next chapter. These decisions are never easy, but we are focused on positioning our program for sustained success in a rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape.”
Tinkle, who was hired in 2014, led the Beavers to two appearances in the NCAA Tournament, highlighted by a remarkable 2021 run that saw Oregon State capture the Pac-12 Conference Tournament championship before advancing to the Elite Eight.
The postseason surge marked just the second Elite Eight appearance in school history and remains one of the most memorable stretches in modern Beaver basketball.
Over his tenure in Corvallis, Tinkle guided the program to six winning seasons while navigating roster turnover, conference realignment uncertainty and the evolving landscape of college athletics, including the rise of the transfer portal and NIL opportunities.
Former Oregon State forward from the 2020-21 season Joey Potts reflected on Tinkle’s impact beyond wins and losses via text.
“Wayne is a great coach, but an even better person. He pushed me to become not only a better basketball player, but a better man. The lessons he taught me go far beyond the game, and they’re ones I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I’m incredibly grateful to be close with Wayne and the Tinkle family,” Potts said.
Despite the 2021 breakthrough, Oregon State has struggled to maintain consistent success in recent seasons, prompting the university to make a change as it prepares for a new era within the Pac-12.
The university announced that a national search for the program’s next head coach will begin immediately, with executive search firm DHR Global assisting in the process.
Tinkle leaves behind a legacy defined by loyalty to the university and a historic postseason run that briefly put the Beavers back on the national stage.
