CORVALLIS,Ore. – JaMarcus Shephard has been named the 28th head football coach at Oregon State University, the school announced today. Shephard arrives in Corvallis after serving as Assistant Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers at the University of Alabama since 2024.
shephard brings a wealth of coaching experience to Oregon State, including previous roles as Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers at Washington (2022-23) and Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers at Purdue (2018-21), where he coached wide receiver David Bell, who caught 93 passes for 1,286 yards to rank second in the NCAA in receptions per game and fifth in yards per game. He was Purdue’s Pass Game Coordinator in 2017.
Prior to his time at Purdue, Shephard coached wide receivers at Washington State in 2016, where the cougars averaged 370.8 passing yards per game, highlighted by River Cracraft’s 53 receptions for 701 yards and five touchdowns. He began his collegiate coaching career at Western Kentucky, serving as a Defensive Analyst and Volunteer Assistant in 2011, moving to offensive analyst in 2013, and then as a full-time receivers coach from 2014-15. During his two seasons as a full-time staffer at Western Kentucky, Hilltopper receivers amassed 553 receptions and 86 touchdowns, wiht the offense averaging 374.3 passing yards per game in 2014 and 372.2 in 2015.
Shephard’s coaching journey began in the Indiana high school ranks, with assistant roles at Fort Wayne Northrop (2005) and Broad Ripple High School (2006). He also served as a volunteer assistant with the DePauw track & field program in 2007. He held positions with the NCAA Championships and Education Services Division (2006-07) and the National Center for Drug-Free Sport (2007-11).
A DePauw University graduate (2005) with degrees in sports medicine and recreation and sport administration from Western Kentucky University (2013),Shephard was a four-year letterwinner and two-time All-American for the tigers. He still holds the DePauw school record for career kickoff return yards (1,430) and ranks sixth in receptions (168) and seventh in receiving yards (2,382). He was a team captain and caught 47 passes for 815 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior and was one of only two Division III players to compete in the 2005 Hula Bowl. He interned with the Philadelphia Eagles during his junior year at DePauw.
Shephard and his wife, Hallie, have three children: Jaylan, Alana, and Maliyah.
Shephard’s Coaching experience
* 2024-present: Alabama (Assistant Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
* 2022-23: Washington (Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
* 2018-21: Purdue (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
* 2017: Purdue (Pass Game coordinator/Wide Receivers)
* 2016: Washington State (Wide Receivers)
* 2014-15: Western Kentucky (wide Receivers)
* 2012-13: Western Kentucky (Quality Control)
* 2011: Western Kentucky (defensive Analyst/Volunteer Assistant)
* 2006: Broad Ripple [ind.] HS, WR/DB
* 2005: Northrop [Ind.] HS (Wide receivers)
