Dana Altman announced his retirement as Oregon’s men’s basketball coach effective immediately on Wednesday, less than 24 hours before he was scheduled to appear at Big Ten Media Days. Altman, 68, leaves after 16 seasons in Eugene and 37 years as a Division I head coach.
Oregon elevated assistant coach Tony Stubblefield, who spent 13 seasons on Altman’s staff, to interim head coach for the 2026-27 season. The school also announced it will launch a national search for Altman’s permanent successor, according to ESPN.
Dana Altman Retirement Announcement
Altman’s exit comes with Oregon’s season opener against Montana just weeks away and an exhibition game against Seattle set for Oct. 15. The timing caught the program off guard, arriving on the eve of a media obligation he was expected to attend.
In a statement, Altman reflected on his decision. “I’ve loved every minute of coaching here, and stepping away is difficult and truly painful. I love coaching, it’s what I know best and what I’ve been fortunate enough to do for almost five decades. It’s been the honor of my life to coach the Ducks,” he said, according to ESPN.
Altman also compared the move to the hardest previous call of his career. “I have had to make two really tough decisions in my coaching career. The first was leaving Creighton, a place my family and I dearly loved, to come to Oregon. This is the second,” he said.
Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens praised Altman’s tenure, calling his 382 wins, nine NCAA tournament appearances and Final Four run an incredible track record. Mullens also credited Altman and his wife, Reva, for their contributions to the university beyond basketball.
What It Means For Oregon’s Roster
Stubblefield inherits a program in transition. Oregon’s entire roster turned over during the offseason, and the team only began practicing in recent weeks ahead of the Nov. 2 opener, according to OregonLive.
The Ducks enter the season projected 56th nationally and 13th in the Big Ten, with unresolved questions at point guard and center, according to CBS Sports. Oregon had more than $12 million available to build its roster this offseason, middle-of-the-pack spending in the Big Ten but short of what programs like Michigan, Indiana and Illinois committed.
Jackson Shelstad, who had been projected as Oregon’s starting point guard, transferred to Louisville in the spring for a reported $4 million payday. His departure left a hole at the position that Stubblefield must now address without his original head coach in place.
Altman’s Career Record And Legacy
Altman compiled a 792-425 record across his Division I coaching career, ranking 15th all time in wins and fifth among active coaches at the time of his retirement. At Oregon, he went 382-182 over 16 seasons, winning four Pac-12 regular-season titles and four Pac-12 tournament championships.
The Ducks reached the NCAA tournament nine times under Altman, including a Final Four appearance in 2017 and five Sweet 16 trips. Before arriving in Eugene in 2010, Altman spent 16 seasons at Creighton, posting a 327-176 record with seven NCAA tournament appearances.
Oregon’s final season under Altman did not match that standard. The Ducks finished 12-20 in 2025-26, the worst record of his tenure, and missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since he took over the program.
Context Around The Timing
Altman’s sudden exit follows a pattern seen elsewhere in college basketball. Virginia’s Tony Bennett retired abruptly in 2024, and Auburn’s Bruce Pearl did the same in 2025, with both departures coming just weeks before their respective season openers, according to CBS Sports.
What’s Next
Stubblefield will lead Oregon into its exhibition opener against Seattle on Oct. 15 before the regular season begins Nov. 2 against Montana. The school has not announced a timeline for completing its national search for Altman’s permanent replacement.
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