A Message To Beaver Nation: From Oregon State President and Director

The landscape of intercollegiate athletics has seen momentous change and disruption in the last year. While every athletic department in the country has been affected, Oregon State has been disproportionally impacted by conference realignment. Since August, our university and athletic department leadership have worked in constant collaboration, leaning into our guiding principles, to find the best path forward for our student-athletes, athletic department and university.

In the short term, scheduling alliances are necessary to provide a solution for competition in the 2024-25 athletic year. We anticipate lower revenues than we have earned from the Pac-12 Conference, and University leadership worked together to build a strategy around funding from public and philanthropic sources.  We have reached a settlement agreement with the ten departing Pac-12 schools, secured money from the College Football Playoff (CFP) and will announce a football media rights agreement soon. I am proud of this leadership, who put our student athletes first and fought in the courts, through tough negotiations and at the legislature. This university never gave up on our students and have put us in a stronger position than many thought possible. Thanks to these efforts, we will continue to fund our programs at the P5 level.

Most importantly, I want to thank each of you who spoke up and used your voice, via emails to legislators, dialogue with university leaders, thoughtful messages on social media and attendance at events. The voice of Beaver Nation is as strong as ever, and your support has contributed to the success to date of our financial strategy. The work is not done, and my hope is that you will continue to actively advocate for and support OSU’s student-athletes.

Given all that has occurred since August, it is hard to predict what the landscape of collegiate athletics will look like in the future. After my 30+ years of working in this industry, the only thing that seems sure is that more change is coming. While speculation and questions loom, we will continue to monitor the landscape and actively engage at every level. Our focus remains on finding the best path forward and seizing the right opportunity at the right time for Oregon State.

Realignment, in addition to NIL and the transfer portal, have created a dramatically different landscape within collegiate athletics, one in which we must be nimble, adaptable, collaborative and relentless. As we continue to navigate these challenges, there are still many incredible opportunities for our student-athletes to prosper and be successful on and off the fields of play.

We are doing things the right way, the Beaver way. While the industry is in flux, our competitive success, academic achievements, and commitment to holistic development signal our strength and demonstrate that in Corvallis, the student-athlete experience is among the best in the nation.

• The football program finished No. 19 in the final CFP rankings and competed in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Trent Bray (Oregon State class of 2007) was hired as head coach following the season.
• Led by first-year head coach Greg Dalby, , the men’s soccer team competed in the College Cup for the first time in program history, with Logan Farrington earning Pac-12 Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year recognition.
• The regional performance by Kaylee Mitchell and Grace Fetherstonhaugh earned them the chance to compete at cross country nationals. Kaylee placed 12^th and for the third time, was named an All-American.

• Under the direction of head coach Scott Rueck, women’s basketball advanced to the Elite 8 and was ranked 8^th in the final AP Poll. Coach Rueck was named to the Naismith College Coach of Year Late Season watch list.
• The wrestling program had five individuals compete at the NCAA Championship with Trey Munoz placing 3^rd, the best individual finish for the program since 2018.
• Gymnastics competed in the post-season for the 49^th consecutive year. Sophia Esposito was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Jade Carey posted a perfect 10.0 at the Pac-12 Championship and will compete this week at nationals.
• Spring sports are well underway, with baseball currently ranked 5^th in the nation and on pace to host the NCAA Regionals in Corvallis. Kyra Ly, of women’s golf, earned her first career individual title at the Juli Inkster at Meadow Club Invitational.
• Oregon State student-athletes have performed well academically during the 2023-24 academic year. During the 2024 winter term, 15 teams earned a term and cumulative GPA higher than 3.0, and 240 student-athletes had a term GPA of 3.5 or higher. Student-athletes earned 97.2% of credits attempted and 97.3% of our student-athletes are in good standing, with 212 individuals on the Oregon State Honor Roll.
• Service to the community of Corvallis remains a priority for OSU’s staff, coaches and student-athletes. To date, 86% of student-athletes have participated in community service with more than 2,200 hours logged. While many entities benefit from this service to the community, the Vina Moses Center, Corvallis Public Library, Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis, and Corvallis School District have been visited most frequently by our student-athletes and staff.
• The holistic well-being of our student-athletes remains a top priority, and with the addition of two full-time positions and two part-time positions, we have increased accessibility and availability of services to meet the ever-growing demand for care. Our student-athlete development staff has evolved our dynamic programming as we strive to provide the tools necessary for our student-athletes to be successful during their time at Oregon State and beyond. Many of these changes were made because our athletic administration team intentionally created opportunities for on-going conversations with student-athlete leaders to understand their most pressing needs.

There is no doubt in my mind that you are each a significant part of that equation. You have continued to show up – as alums, donors and fans sharing a passion for a common cause that brings people together like nothing else can. Oregon State Athletics unites proud alumni and current students, Beaver fans from all occupations and backgrounds, from every corner of the state and beyond its borders, over one common thread – a loyal, unwavering commitment to Oregon State.

I remain optimistic about our future and committed to breaking down every door and inserting ourselves in every conversation, be it specific to Oregon State or the entire intercollegiate landscape. Oregon State has always punched above its weight class, and we will continue to do just that. I hear you and know that it feels like since August we have been on the receiving end of multiple gut punches. When that happens, you are faced with two options – exit the ring or throw counterpunches. Hear this Beaver Nation, the gloves are on, and we will not stray from our mission. We will rise together, shoulder-to-shoulder, supporting our student-athletes and coaches while never backing down.

Go Beavs,

Scott Barnes
Oregon State Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics