‘Growth, leadership, competition and power,’ those are the four pillars of culture that incoming Beaver basketball Head Coach Justin Joyner hopes to bring to Oregon State next year.
Joyner outlined that vision on Monday, March 16th, during his introductory press conference at the Valley Football Center.
“We want our players to understand that the best version of ourselves is when we are attacking with the greater good [in mind],” Joyner said. “Let’s lean into each other. Let’s be about the unit first while also attacking our individual greatness.”
Joyner is currently serving as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan Wolverines, who have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region bracket in this year’s NCAA tournament.
In the transition to Oregon State, Joyner hopes to reimagine culture both on and off the court.
“Let’s have a culture of appreciation,” Joyner said. “Let’s understand it. It’s important we appreciate the opportunities we have, and…do a good job taking advantage of them.”
To achieve this culture of appreciation, Joyner believes four pillars need to be addressed.
Joyner emphasized the importance of applying these pillars to the entire staff, not just the players.
“We’re going to bring life into our players,” Joyner said. “We’re going to be growth-focused, growth-minded. And it’s going to be about that holistically. It’s going to be about that on the basketball court.”
On the more technical side, Joyner hopes to bolster team performance through fast-paced offense and a “shot diet.”
Joyner hopes for strength on both sides of the court. He has led six-straight top 15 defenses in his tenure and hopes to continue that legacy at Oregon State.
“The shots we want to take are the shots we want to eliminate,” Joyner said. “We want to take away threes. We want to take away room for attack…if we can do that defensively, we should be one of the best defenses in the country.”
Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Barnes are excited about the partnership with Joyner.
“Beaver nation is excited and energized,” Murthy said in her introduction. “Coach Joyner’s record of achievement and extensive experience with the nation’s top programs will serve him well.”
