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Oregon State wasted no time replacing Jonathan Smith as the Beavers are set to name Trent Bray as their new head coach. A press conference will be held tomorrow at 5:00 pm ET, 2:00 pm PT to introduce Bray as the 32nd head coach at Oregon State.
Bray is being promoted from the defensive coordinator position to head coach. He has been on the Oregon State staff since 2018 and was named defensive coordinator in November of 2021.
His impact on the defense was felt immediately as the Oregon State defense gave up six fewer points and 55 fewer yards per game than in 2021. This season the Beavers defense has the following national rankings:
-33rd with 21.5 points per game
-35th with 340.2 total yards per game
-14th with 104.1 rushing yards per game
-Tied for 9th with 36 sacks
-Tied for 22nd with 12 interceptions
Trent Bray is one of the most recognizable defensive players in Oregon State history. Bray played linebacker for the Beavers from 2002-2005, starting 34 games. In 2004, Bray’s junior season, he recorded 112 tackles leading to a Second-Team All-Pac 10 selection. In the Insight Bowl, he set the Oregon State bowl game record with 10 tackles in a win over Notre Dame. Bray recorded 116 tackles in his senior season landing him on the First-Team All-Pac 10 team.
After interviewing a number of candidates the Oregon State brass realized their next head coach is already in Corvallis. Oregon State needs the stability of one of its own as it transitions into the new Pac-12 starting in 2024. But, as we saw with Jonathan Smith, if the right money comes along no job is safe. However, Bray is the right coach at the right time to lead the Oregon State Beavers into this transition.
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