Oregon State hires Trent Bray as football coach, replacing Jonathan Smith

Oregon State is again turning to one of its beloved former players to run the football program.

Trent Bray is set to become the Beavers next football coach, replacing Jonathan Smith, the school announced Tuesday. Bray, 41, is the 32nd head coach in Oregon State’s 127-year football history.

“After interviewing several qualified candidates, we realized our top choice, Trent, has already been a mainstay at the Valley Football Center and Reser Stadium,” OSU athletic director Scott Barnes said in a statement. “He’s been a part of Beaver Nation for a long time and (his) love for this place is real. The connection and trust he has built with our student athletes is unmatched. His energy and determination as head coach will be a catalyst for continued program success.”

A news conference introducing Bray will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday. It is not open to the public.

There was a coaching vacancy when Smith, OSU’s former star quarterback-turned-coach, resigned after six years Saturday to become coach at Michigan State. Like Smith in 2018, Bray is a first-time head coach.

Bray has deep ties to Oregon State. He played linebacker for the Beavers from 2002-05 and ranks No. 6 on the school’s all-time list with 337 career tackles. As a coach, Bray was an OSU graduate assistant in 2012, then linebackers coach in 2013-14 under coach Mike Riley. Bray returned to Oregon State in 2018 to serve as Smith’s inside linebackers coach. Late in the 2021 season, defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar was fired and Bray replaced him on an interim basis. Before OSU’s 2021 bowl game, Bray was promoted to defensive coordinator, a role he continues to serve while also coaching linebackers.

Bray has also coached at Nebraska (2015-17) and Arizona State (2009-11). Bray’s father, Craig, is a former Oregon State defensive coordinator.

The high-energy Bray transformed a defense that had struggled for most of Smith’s first four years. In 2022, the Beavers had the Pac-12′s top defense, giving up 20 points and 332 yards per game. Despite losing three defensive backs to the NFL and both inside linebackers, OSU was among the conference’s top four in rushing and total defense this season.

Bray is enormously popular among the current players. Earlier this season, quarterback DJ Uiagalelei compared Bray to his former defensive coordinator Brent Venables while he was at Clemson.

“He reminds me a lot of how Coach V was and his demeanor. He’s out there, full speed with the players, yelling, running, into guys’ face, did something wrong he’s right there. Very active and I love that as a defensive coordinator,” Uiagalelei said. “Coach Bray is a smart-ass coach.”

Bray’s 2023 Oregon State defensive coordinator salary was $700,000, scheduled for an increase to $750,000 in 2024.

Smith was introduced as Michigan State’s coach Tuesday . Smith hired five assistants from his Oregon State 2023 staff in Jim Michalczik (offensive line), Keith Bhonapha (running backs), Brian Lindgren (offensive coordinator), Blue Adams (secondary) and Brian Wozniak (tight ends).

Aside from Bray, four current OSU assistants remain in Corvallis in Kefense Hynson (receivers), Legi Suiaunoa (defensive line), Anthony Perkins (corners) and Jake Cookus (special teams). It’s not known how many current OSU assistants will join Bray’s staff. All four have a contract that runs through February 2025.

- Nick Daschel |