Trent Bray Appointed Head Football Coach at Oregon State

Trent Bray Appointed Head Football Coach at Oregon State

As the defensive coordinator for Smith on the OSU staff since the middle of the 2021 season and being a member of Smith’s staff before their arrival in 2018, Bray’s appointment provides consistency and experience to a program that sorely needed both.

The Beavers’ defensive performance took a sharp turn for the better once Bray assumed control of the defense.

Bray was first named to the role after then-DC Tim Tibesar was fired with three games left; however, he was made permanent ahead of this bowl game.

The Beavers have gone 20-9 overall in Bray’s two plus seasons as defensive coordinator. They boasted a top-five defense in the Pac-12 this season and possibly the best defense by the conference in 2022.

In terms of total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, red zone defense, or fourth down defense in 2022, Bray’s defense led the Pac-12.

Bray worked as Nebraska’s assistant coach from 2015 to 2017 under former Oregon State head coach Mike Riley, before joining Smith again at Oregon State in 2018. Prior to that, from 2012 to 2014, he worked as Riley’s GA and LB coach at OSU.

Trent will be Oregon State’s new head coach, and university president Scott Barnes expressed his excitement in a statement.

“After speaking with a number of deserving applicants, we discovered that Trent, our first choice, had already established himself as a staple at Reser Stadium and the Valley Football Center.

He has a genuine affection for Beaver Nation, having lived here for a considerable amount of time.

He has established an unparalleled rapport and trust with our student athletes. As head coach, his zeal and drive will serve as a spark for the program’s ongoing success.”

From 2002 until 2005, Bray was a linebacker for the Beavers. In 2008, the Pullman, Washington, native started working as a graduate assistant coach at Arizona State.

During 2010 to 2011, Bray also collaborated alongside his father, Craig Bray, and Dennis Erickson while serving on Arizona State’s defensive staff.

He had previously served as an employee of Oregon State from 2012 to 2014, then stopped by at Nebraska from 2015 to 2017, returning to his alma school when Smith was hired in 2018. After managing the Beavers to a 8-4 regular season, Smith left to join Michigan State.

“I’d like to thank Scott Barnes or President Jayathi Rao for this opportunity,” Bray stated. “I’ve been a student-athlete and coach at Oregon State quite a long time, so I understand the unique qualities of Beaver Nation.

I’m thrilled to be in charge of a superb bunch of guys that our supporters can be proud of.” After the 2023 regular season, Oregon State, under Bray’s direction, is ranked No. 14 in rushing defense and No. 35 in total defense in the country.

The Beavers had a 10-3 record the previous season and were ranked No. 24 in total defense but No. 16 in scoring defense.

“I’m excited to be able to present Trent as our next head coach,” Barnes stated. “After speaking with a number of deserving applicants, we discovered that Trent, our first choice, had already established himself as a staple at Reser Stadium and the Valley Football Center.

He has a genuine affection for Beaver Nation, having lived here for a considerable amount of time.

He has established an unparalleled rapport and trust with our student athletes. As head coach, his zeal and drive will serve as a spark for the program’s ongoing success.”

After serving as the defensive coordinator for the Beavers for two and a half seasons, Bray was promoted to become Oregon State’s 32nd head coach.

During that time, he transformed the program’s defense become one of the best in the country.

He will be in his tenth season as an Oregon State coach in 2024; he spent three years in Corvallis from 2012 to 2014 before coming back in 2018.

“I’d like to thank Scott Barnes and President Jayathi Murthy for this opportunity,” Bray stated.

“I’ve been a student-athlete and coach at Oregon State over a long time, so I understand the unique qualities of Beaver Nation. I’m thrilled to be in charge of a superb bunch of guys that our supporters can be proud of.”

In his second season with the Beavers, Bray is a nominee for the 2022 Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the country. He is currently in his sixth season.

Bray rejoined Oregon State in 2018 to take over as linebackers coach. In November 2021, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.

Under his leadership, OSU’s defense quickly rose to the top of the Pac-12. Oregon State allowed 55 fewer yards and gave up six fewer points per game in 2022 compared to 2021.

Additionally, the Beavers recorded a Pac-12-high 71 pass breakups. Furthermore, Oregon State allowed the fewest plays of 10 yards or more while leading the conference in red zone defense.