In this series of updates on the history of each Pac-12 men’s hops program, we provide a brief coaching summary, list of the current coaches, along with postseason results, conference titles, award winners, and all-time coaching records.
The Oregon State men’s basketball program, established in 1901, has won 14 conference championships (counting two in the Northwest Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1909 and 1912) and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament 18 times.
The Beavers have advanced to the Final Four twice (in 1949 and 1963), and in their 2021 NCAA appearance, they advanced to the Elite Eight after winning their first tournament games since 1982.
OSU basketball first took flight with the hiring of Slats Gill in 1928. Gill, for whom the school’s Coliseum is named, remains the winningest coach in program history with 599 wins to 393 losses.
Gill won five conference championships, taking the Beavers to six NCAA Tournaments, including two Final Four appearances. Gill became the Oregon State athletic director upon retiring.
After six years under Gill assistant Paul Valenti, Oregon State continued its winning ways with Ralph Miller, who was hired away from Iowa in 1970.
In his 19-year career in Corvallis, Miller compiled a record of 359-198 (though 17 of those wins were later vacated) with only two losing seasons in that span.
Miller directed OSU to eight NCAA Tournaments, three of which were also vacated, along with an Elite Eight appearance.
His 1980-81 “Orange Express” team was ranked No. 1 in the polls for eight weeks, finishing with a 26-2 record and earning Miller the UPI and AP Coach of the Year honors.
Miller remains the second-winningest coach in school history.
Wayne Tinkle assumed the reins in 2014 and has compiled a 116-137 record to date, including six .500-or-better seasons in his eight-year tenure.
In 2020-21, Tinkle’s team won the Pac-12 Tournament after going 10-10 in conference play, making a magical run to the Elite Eight.
The performance led to a three-year contract extension worth up to $3 million per year. However, the Beavers fell back to earth in 2021-22, posting a disappointing 3-27 mark.
Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR)
Gill Coliseum
Current Coaching Staff
Associate Head Coach: Eric Reveno (2022-present)
Assistant: Marlon Stewart (2018-present)
Assistant: vacant
Director of Basketball Operations: Ryan Lawrence (2021-present)
Directory of Player Personnel: Tyler Copp (2020-present)
Postseason Results
Final Four Appearances: 2 (1949, 1963)
Sweet Sixteen Appearances: 6 (1955, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1975, 2021) **
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 15 (1947, 1949, 1955, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1975, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2016, 2021) **
NCAA Tournament Overall Record: 13-18 **
NIT Championships: 0
NIT Appearances: 4 (1979, 1983, 1987, 2005)
NIT Overall Record: 3-4
CBI Championships: 1 (2009)
CBI Appearances: 4 (2009. 2010, 2012, 2014)
CBI Overall Record: 7-4
Conference Titles (PCC through Pac-12)
Pac-12 Tournament Championships: 1 (2021)
Annual Award Winners
John R. Wooden Award: 0
Oscar Robertson Trophy: 0
AP All-Americans: 6 (Gary Payton, 1990; A.C. Green, 1985; Lester Conner, 1982; Steve Johnson, 1981; Ray Blume, 1980; Mel Counts, 1964)
Pac-12 Player of the Year: 5 (Gary Payton, 1990; )
Oregon State Head Coaching Records
| Coach | Tenure | Record | Conf Titles | NCAA Trips | NCAA Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Tinkle | 2014-Pres | 116-137 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Craig Robinson | 2008-2014 | 94-105 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Mouton (int) | 2007-2008 | 0-13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jay John | 2002-2007 | 72-97 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ritchie McKay | 2000-2002 | 22-37 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eddie Payne | 1995-2000 | 52-88 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Anderson | 1989-1995 | 79-90 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Ralph Miller | 1970-1989 | 342-198 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Paul Valenti | 1960, 1964-1970 | 91-82 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Slats Gill | 1928-1964 | 599-393 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| Robert Hager | 1922-1928 | 115-53 | 0 | — | — |
| R.B. Rutherford | 1920-1922 | 27-19 | 0 | — | — |
| H.W. Hargiss | 1918-1920 | 10-25 | 0 | — | — |
| Howard Ray | 1917-1918 | 15-0 | 0 | — | — |
| Everett May | 1916-1917 | 11-7 | 0 | — | — |
| Doc Stewart | 1911-1916 | 67-33 | 1 | — | — |
| Clifford Reed | 1910-1911 | 3-5 | — | — | — |
| Emmett Angell | 1908-1910 | 19-8 | — | — | — |
| Roy Heater | 1907-1908 | 7-4 | — | — | — |
| Zopher Thorne | 1904 | 2-2 | — | — | — |
| J.W. Viggers | 1903 | 2-1 | — | — | — |
| W.O. Trine | 1902-1907 | 40-5 | — | — | — |
| J.B. Patterson | 1901-1902 | 1-2 | — | — | — |
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