The college football coaching carousel is starting to spin with the regular season almost over.
Former Penn State coach James Franklin was hired by Virginia Tech. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz stayed put with a new contract extension despite being involved in rumors.
Oklahoma State hired North Texas head coach Eric Morris after moving on from Mike Gundy earlier in the year.
There are plenty of other jobs open, including Florida, LSU, UCLA Penn State and Arkansas.
Another job that opened in October was at Oregon State. The program fired Trent Bray after a 0-7 start to the season, and the Beavers have won two games since then.
Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
The Oregon State opening is a difficult one, especially with the 2-9 record and the questions about the future of the program.
On Thursday, Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported that Crimson Tide assistant JaMarcus Shepard has emerged as an option for Oregon State.
“Oregon State is targeting Alabama co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard to be its new head coach, sources tell @CBSSports“
Oregon State is targeting Alabama co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard to be its new head coach, sources tell @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/Bi1JidENsH
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) November 27, 2025
Shepard played college football at DePauw and has been around as an assistant coach in college since 2011.
Here is where he has been.
- 2011-2015: Western Kentucky, Graduate Assistant, Quality Control, and Wide Receivers Coach
- 2016: Washington State, Wide Receivers coach
- 2017-2021: Purdue, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers, Pass Game Coordinator
- 2022-2023: Washington, Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers
- 2024-2025: Assistant Head Coach, Wide Receivers
Shepard was with Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer during his time at Washington and followed him over to Tuscaloosa.
Now, he is emerging as an option for the Beavers’ job, and things could pick up quickly in Corvallis.
Related: Major College Football Program Making ‘Serious’ Effort To Land Lane Kiffin