Oregon State is parting ways with head coach Wayne Tinkle following the 2025-26 campaign, the school announced Thursday. Tinkle met with athletic director Scott Barnes and was given the option of finishing out the year with the Beavers, who wrap up the regular season on Saturday against Santa Clara.
“We are grateful to Wayne for his dedication to Oregon State and for the leadership he has provided our men’s basketball program,” Barnes said in a release. “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.”
In his 12th season with the program, Tinkle has led Oregon State to a 16-14 record (9-8 in WCC play). The team beat San Diego 92-82 in overtime on Wednesday night.
Overall, the Beavers have gone 176-204 and made two NCAA Tournament appearances under Tinkle. The highlight of his tenure was the 2020-21 campaign, when Oregon State won the Pac-12 tourney and went on an incredible run to the Elite Eight of the Big Dance as a No. 12 seed, upsetting No. 5 Tennessee, No. 4 Oklahoma State and No. 8 Loyola Chicago before losing to No. 2 Houston. Over the next three seasons (2021-24), the Beavers finished last in the Pac-12 twice, accumulating a total league record of 11-49.
Prior to joining OSU, Tinkle spent eight years as the head coach at Montana. He guided the Grizzlies to two regular-season championships and three NCAA Tournaments. He was named Big Sky Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2013.
Oregon State has played the past two seasons in the WCC but will be back in a remodeled Pac-12 in 2026-27.
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