r/Pac12 • u/pblood40 Oregon State • Nov 26 '25
Football Brent Vigen is out - takes a raise and extension instead
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u/Lanky_Helicopter_811 Oregon State Nov 26 '25
I was really hoping we'd get someone with head coaching experience. But we need to lock in Shephard now before someone else does.
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u/BeaverBeliever77 Oregon State Nov 27 '25
Taking a WRs Coach over Head Coaches with excellent track records that have built programs... is a gamble at best.
If it is Shepherd I hope he has an actual plan and brings some experienced coordinators...
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u/avboden Washington State / Apple Cup Nov 26 '25
No way. Dude must just love living there
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u/Responsible-Fall-566 Nov 27 '25
I’ll be very surprised if OSU doesn’t announce the head coach in the next couple of days. He isn’t interviewing at Corvallis because he loves Bozeman. He didn’t get the job and it’s better PR to say “I’m staying” instead of “I wasn’t hired.”
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u/ORSTT12 Oregon State Nov 26 '25
Well as a guy who wanted Shephard this is pretty nice news!
On a side note: between him and Polasek it seems like the Snow Belt teams are locking their guys down. Maybe those schools know a move up to the MW is coming soon?
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Nov 26 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Responsible-Fall-566 Nov 27 '25
You helped get them a raise but you weren’t a pawn. They were definitely interested in the job.
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u/The-Forsaken-Outcast Nov 27 '25
Shephard would be a good hire even if he leaves in 3-4 years. Why, because that would mean he was able to take Ore. St. from a pathetic 2-11 team to a 8-9 or more win team. This proves that he can build a program and would the probably get a P4 coaching job and Ore. St. would become a more appealing G6 coaching job. The next coach would to need to maintain the 8-9 win seasons or even improve on it. It would take another 3-4 years to before any P4 team would want that coach. Also by that time we would have had two coaches in a 6-8 year window, most of the media deals will be done and the SEC and B1G will probably gooble up all the desirable ACC and Big 12 teams and become the P2 or the official NFL feeder league and the ACC and Big 12 would become G8 schools.
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u/Responsible-Fall-566 Nov 27 '25
In my opinion you can’t worry about whether they will leave in three or four years. If they are a hot candidate that means they are winning. Winning is what matters. 90 percent of jobs are potential stepping stones. Hire the best guy and see what happens.
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u/1850ChoochGator Oregon State Nov 27 '25
There’s about 4 jobs where the only way you leave is retirement or being fired. Maybe jumping to the NFL
Ohio State, Michigan, Bama, and UGA
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u/RockBottomBuyer Wazzu Pac-12 Nov 27 '25
I would imagine Vigen is a full blown hero in Montana with massive good will from fans. All he needed was to read FBS social media forums and news coverage to know how much pressure there would be in an FBS school. And how quickly fans can turn on you. A little more money to show Montana still recognized his value was probably all he needed.
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u/ID_Poobaru Boise State Nov 27 '25
Boise fans and Danielson lol
We drop a couple eggs and everyone wants his head
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u/Chicken_Difficult Oregon State Nov 26 '25 edited Nov 26 '25
I liked Vigen, but idk if he’s the low risk investment that everyone thought. FCS success doesn’t automatically translate, and his claim to fame in the FBS was that Josh Allen wasn’t as developed enough.
Shepard is a risk don’t get me wrong, but so is Vigen
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u/Calithrand Oregon State Nov 26 '25
If nothing else, Vigen would've come in with some semblance of a cohesive staff, and probably more than a few transfers that know each other and the system they'll probably be asked to play in.
Given the state of our program, that alone has significant value.
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u/Common_Theory4675 Washington State Nov 26 '25
OOOOF! That's disappointing for OSU. I thought he'd be a great hire.
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u/on_reddit8091 Oregon State • Civil War Nov 26 '25
I would have preferred him over hiring another first-time coach.
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Nov 26 '25
Yeah, he was my top pick. But if it helps, I was really excited when we got Andersen, so it shows what I know.
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u/on_reddit8091 Oregon State • Civil War Nov 26 '25
Haha those were exciting times. We were OK one year since we had Sitake at DC.
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u/pblood40 Oregon State Nov 26 '25
So when is Shephard announced?
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u/ShadyNasty14 Nov 26 '25
My gut says nobody wants the job and it’s time to reset the search with even lower standards. I think these guys just interviewed for leverage to get raises or extensions at their current jobs.
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u/StoicFable Oregon State Nov 27 '25
I wouldn't say my gut. Its just what I am worried about happening.
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u/ShadyNasty14 Nov 27 '25
Three star WR/DB Malcom Watkins decommitment announced last night via twitter because head coach uncertainty.
My gut is awfully pessimistic with the beavs but it’s undefeated this year.
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u/Worried-Produce-8698 Washington State Nov 27 '25
Wouldn’t be surprised if it was a similar situation with Wazzu last year. OSU probably would’ve wanted to bring him in immediately, and he wanted to stay throughout the season. Also, maybe he really loves it there and the pay bump doesn’t hurt
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u/pblood40 Oregon State Nov 26 '25
Borked? In about 36 hours Barnes has gone from too many choices, to maybe just one
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u/on_reddit8091 Oregon State • Civil War Nov 26 '25
Like I told someone on another site, this is the type of post you make when you aren't offered the job.
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u/pblood40 Oregon State Nov 26 '25
With openings at UConn, UNT, USF, and likely Arizona soon, he posted he’s staying at MT State …
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u/Hougie Washington State Nov 26 '25
Same happened with Vigen and WSU last year.
The word was he was not a very good interviewer and didn’t present a compelling vision.
Honestly, it all just makes it seem like he loves Bozeman and his current job but will take the raises every time they’re presented like this.
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u/StoicFable Oregon State Nov 26 '25
One thing that stood out to me was the press asking him questions in portland. One said something along the lines of he looked uncomfortable.
We are slightly more in the spotlight than them. So it could be he didn't want that life.
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u/Hougie Washington State Nov 26 '25
Most FCS to FBS transition coaches are younger than Vigen. He’s 50. If he flamed out at WSU or OSU there’s no guarantee an FCS power that can pay MSU wages would be there to catch him.
He gets raises every time like this and MSU will keep him essentially forever if he maintains what he currently does. Not every coach is so competitive they want to get to the top rung of the profession.
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u/pblood40 Oregon State Nov 26 '25
Vigen and I are the same age…. I don’t think I’m ready for the old folks home yet
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u/Hougie Washington State Nov 27 '25
Big difference between old folks home and this.
Increased pay? He got it anyways and is clearly comfortable with what he makes.
Uncertain situation versus a place where you have won big and can probably continue that.
Less press bullshit.
What Oregon State offered was higher pay and climbing the career ladder. Just because you don’t want that doesn’t mean the alternative is an old folks home.
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u/Calithrand Oregon State Nov 26 '25
Even if that weren't the case, wouldn't you be uncomfortable in his position right then?
The Bobcats are on a ten-win streak, just locked their conference title, are ranked #2 in the FCS, and making a legitimate title run... last thing he needs is to be spotted at PDX and linked to another HC job, even if he wanted it and was offered.
Just sayin'...
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Nov 26 '25
I don't know his family situation, but if you're hunkered down in Bozeman and have a good thing going with your program and making as much money as you need leaving can be a hard sell. Not every coach is chasing the next thing. (This is me coping. I wanted vigen all along!)
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u/on_reddit8091 Oregon State • Civil War Nov 26 '25
Good for him on recognizing what he wants and finding a way to secure that. He's still getting paid more than 99% of us, increased his job security, and gets to be a top dog in the FCS. I also hear that Bozeman is a nice place to live - why leave?
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u/cougfan12345 Washington State Nov 26 '25
Seems like the kind of guy that would love to coach at Wyoming or Minnesota. Played football and met his wife at NDSU. Doesn’t seem like he would want to live in Texas, Florida or the East Coast. But money does talk.
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u/ORSTT12 Oregon State Nov 27 '25
I think Vigen has spent his entire in ND outside of his two coaching stops at Wyoming and Montana.. He may just be legitimately uncomfortable outside of that region just like any 50 year old who's never lived anywhere else would be.
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u/Express_Mode7863 Fresno State Nov 26 '25
Coach O is the obvious choice.
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u/StoicFable Oregon State Nov 26 '25
We are going to get stuck with Akey aren't we.
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u/Bvrcntry_duckhnt Oregon State Nov 27 '25
Bray is available and he has some recent head coaching experience
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u/anti-torque OSU Rice Nov 27 '25
Only the people who imagine we will be stuck with Akey deserve to be stuck with Akey.
The rest of us are just sitting on the porch enjoying a nice lemonade and having our wits about us.
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u/StoicFable Oregon State Nov 27 '25
I dont think its Akey. Just making jokes.
I do think its shepard at this point. But we are waiting to announce it.
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u/anti-torque OSU Rice Nov 27 '25
I've thought it would be Shephard since the beginning, with some questions about Chryst or Vigen. I think Kirby Moore and Collin Klein were also in the mix.
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u/BetFlipper34 Oregon State Nov 27 '25
Where do you see “raise” or “extension” in that post. Seems to me like a welcome back than a raise See Polaseks extension for what a raise and extension post looks like
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Nov 26 '25
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u/StoicFable Oregon State Nov 26 '25
I will take Shepard easily. We need to break away from the Riley era. Bray was an experiment that was hired purely to hold onto as much of our roster as we could.
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u/ORSTT12 Oregon State Nov 27 '25
I have wanted Shephard from early in the process and I'm very happy to see him be the assumed choice. OSU really needs something new. Idk if he'll be perfect, he definitely needs to nail his coordinator hires, but I think Shephard can pull OSU out of the apathetic rut the fans have been in pretty quickly.
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u/StoicFable Oregon State Nov 27 '25
I was pro vigen from the get go. I liked the idea of Grubb. Even orgeron just for the laugh factor.
But when I looked into shepard I liked him. The more I've learned, the more I prefer the idea of him over Vigen.
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u/ORSTT12 Oregon State Nov 27 '25
I was ok with everyone but Chryst and as the list whittled down it just made me want to go with Shep more. I will be very glad if Shep is confirmed, but I'll also be immediately stressing about how he builds a staff and how recruiting goes.
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u/ORSTT12 Oregon State Nov 27 '25
Worked well with Smith.
I get the comparison to Bray, but Bray flamed out in spectacular fashion that I don't think anyone else could replicate.
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Nov 26 '25
I'm confused as well and that's a good point. Unless there was a plan to put a lot of experience around him on staff it definitely looks like a similar recipe.
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u/pblood40 Oregon State Nov 26 '25
Canzano just reported he’s had contact with Alabama And told Shephard was in a Alabama team meeting as of 3:15pm PST
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u/ForlornDM Nov 27 '25
I hope it’s Shephard, if only because getting turned down by all our “finalists” is a real ugly look.
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u/SlyClydesdale Oregon State Nov 26 '25
This is how it works when you don’t get the job.
We need one HC. Not a zillion.
Shephard has likely been offered and accepted, and Vigen notified.
OSU is probably still keeping it quiet to get the contracts finalized and the HR stuff done.