The Oregon State head coach’s seat is turning into a hot commodity. After firing Trent Bray following a rough 0-7 start this season, the Beavers are on the hunt for a fresh leader to flip the script. Plus, in a challenging Pac-12 conference, the hunt needs to be quite thorough. The search committee includes heavy hitters like former OSU coach Mike Riley and star alum Brandin Cooks. But just when you thought it was just a one-sided search, former Wisconsin HC, Paul Chryst, with a $5.25M price tag with the Badgers, entered the scene.

Beavers writer Ryan Clarke posted on X that “former Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst is interested in the Oregon State job.” Paul Chryst, 59, ran the show at Wisconsin from 2015 to 2022, racking up a 67–26 record. But then, after Wisconsin’s 2-3 start in 2022 fueled his unemployment. The 34–10 drubbing by Illinois really stung, especially since former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema was the one leading the Illini. Then there was the humiliating 52-21 loss to Ohio State and a home loss against Washington State. That’s when the Badgers’ AD, Chris McIntosh, pulled the plug on him.

“It’s a big decision and it’s got implications that are not lost on me,” McIntosh said. “But really, really thankful to have been able to work side by side with Coach Chryst through some incredibly exhilarating, positive moments, and some tough ones like today.” But Paul’s desire to enter Corvallis is solely because he already knows the Beavers system. Chryst’s connection to Oregon State goes back to his days as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2003-04. At that point in time, his Beavers offense ranked top 10 nationally and led the Pac-10 in total offense.

That 2003 team made NCAA history by having a 4,000-yard passer, 1,500-yard rusher, and two 1,000-yard receivers, showcasing Chryst’s sharp offensive mind. Players like Derek Anderson and Steven Jackson thrived under his watch. These achievements actually make him a staunch candidate for the Beavers’ job. “Oregon State is a special place, and I would like to coach again,” Chryst wrote. “Out of respect for OSU and the search process, that is all that I believe I should comment on.” 

Paul Chryst isn’t the only one vying for Corvallis

Oregon State’s 0-7 record made the Beavers hungry for a potential coaching replacement. The program is in an odd spot: their past two hires (Jonathan Smith and Bray) were campus legends. If athletic director Scott Barnes goes back to that well, Bronco Mendenhall might tempt him. Mendenhall practically bleeds Beaver orange, but lately, he’s been college football’s wandering professor.

After building BYU into winners, Mendenhall went on an odyssey with Virginia, then New Mexico, and just landed at Utah State. Another name popping up is Matt Wells. Barnes knows him well from their days at Utah State, where Wells kept the Aggies punching above their weight, ringing up 44–34 overall. But after a rocky stint at Texas Tech, he’s now calling plays at Kansas State. For folks dreaming of bold new ideas, Brennan Marion brings serious “wunderkind” energy. He’s a creative offensive architect.

Marion first started at Texas (where he helped recruit OSU’s current starter, Maalik Murphy) and then at UNLV. He turned a losing program into a double-digit winner and earned Coordinator of the Year honors. Marion’s current gig at Sacramento State might be short-lived if Oregon State comes calling. Don’t sleep on Blue Adams, either. He’s the DBs coach who helped Jonathan Smith build Oregon State’s secondary and now works at Michigan State. Adams is a tireless recruiter and a former NFL player.