A new era of Beavers basketball has arrived.
Oregon State University officially introduced Justin Joyner as the new head coach of its men’s basketball program, beginning as the new leader of the team at the start of the 2026-27 season.
Joyner arrives in Corvallis after two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan under Head Coach Dusty May.
During that time, Michigan returned to national relevance, winning a Big Ten tournament title and winning the 2026 National Championship.
Before joining Michigan, Joyner spent seven seasons at Saint Mary’s College of California under longtime Head Coach Randy Bennett, where he eventually became associate head coach.
During his time with the Gaels, the program made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and developed a reputation for consistent success in the West Coast Conference.
For outgoing Oregon State Athletic Director Scott Barnes, Joyner stood out early during the coaching search.
“We had our sights set on Justin early on,” Barnes said during the introductory press conference.
“As I got to know more about his background, most importantly, more about him as a man and a leader, my interest grew exponentially.”
Barnes pointed to Joyner’s experience learning from multiple successful programs as a key factor in the hiring decision.
“Justin has learned from some of the best college basketball minds in the country,” Barnes said. “He’s helped lead elite programs with contrasting styles of play, which has exposed him to an array of concepts and philosophies.”
Joyner replaces former Oregon State Head Coach Wayne Tinkle, who led the program for 12 seasons and guided the Beavers to a memorable Elite Eight run during the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
During the press conference, Joyner acknowledged Tinkle’s contributions to the program and his respect gained from the players.
“I respect him a ton, and I respect what people say about him,” Joyner said. “He’s a good man, and he did a really good job while he was here, and I’m just hoping to continue the tradition and take it to another level.”
Joyner emphasized that his approach to coaching will center on developing players both on and off the court.
“The mission of coaching is very simple,” Joyner said during the press conference. “It’s to pour into these young men and give them the best opportunities and the best chance at success.”
He also outlined the culture he hopes to build inside the program.
“We’re going to have a culture of appreciation,” Joyner said. “We’re living our dream, competing with Oregon State on the front of our chest.”
Joyner said growth and leadership will be foundational pillars of the program moving forward.
“The first pillar for us is going to be growth,” Joyner said. “The second thing is leadership. When you sign up to be part of this program at Oregon State, you sign up to be a leader.”
Despite the focus on culture, Joyner made it clear that winning will remain the ultimate goal.
“Let’s not shake from it,” Joyner said. “We understand we’re here to win basketball games. The goal is to win big in the new Pac-12.”
On the court, Joyner already has his offensive scheme in mind.
“Offensively, we want to play fast,” Joyner said. “We want to run and hunt great shots in transition.”
Defensively, Joyner is also prepared from previous experience.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to lead six straight top-15 defenses in the country,” Joyner said of the team’s defensive system. “Our ability to be adaptable is really important as we move forward here at Oregon State from a defensive standpoint.”
Joyner’s path to becoming a head coach began with humble beginnings in youth basketball.
“They hired me for $800 a month to coach a seventh-grade B team and a second-grade team,” Joyner said. “That was when my fire was ignited as a basketball coach and as a leader.”
That passion eventually led him through multiple coaching stops before receiving the opportunity to lead Oregon State’s program.
When Barnes officially offered him the job, Joyner said the decision was easy.
“I think I responded with ‘Let’s go,’” Joyner said with a laugh.
Now, Joyner turns his attention to building the future of Oregon State basketball.
With the transfer portal, NIL and roster turnover shaping the modern college game, he said communication with players will be critical.
“This is a partnership,” Joyner said. “We as a staff are going to want what’s best for them regardless of if it’s with us or if it’s with someone else.”
For Joyner, the opportunity represents more than simply taking over a program; it’s about helping shape the next era of Beaver basketball.
“This is about Oregon State,” Joyner said. “This is about our community and our student-athletes attacking greatness relentlessly.”
