Dana Altman Retires, Tony Stubblefield Named Oregon’s Interim Head Coach
Editor
Dana Altman Retires, Tony Stubblefield Named Oregon's Interim Head Coach Dana Altman, the winningest coach in Oregon men's basketball history, is retiring after 16 seasons, the school announced Wednesday. Longtime assistant Tony Stubblefield will serve as interim head coach of Oregon for the 2026-27 season.
"I've loved every minute of coaching here, and stepping away is difficult and truly painful," said Altman. "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."
The 68-year-old had pushed back against retirement speculation in recent seasons. Altman told ESPN last October that he had never felt ready to quit.
Altman leaves with a 792-425 record across 37 Division I seasons. His win total ranks 15th in NCAA history and fifth among active coaches.
He won a program-record 382 games at Oregon. Altman reached the NCAA tournament nine times with the Ducks, won at least one game in each appearance and made five Sweet 16 trips. He led Oregon to the Final Four in 2017.
Before last season's 12-20 finish, Altman posted at least 20 wins in each of his first 15 seasons in Eugene. He also captured four Pac-12 regular-season titles and four Pac-12 tournament championships.
Altman previously coached at Marshall, Kansas State and Creighton. He made seven NCAA tournament appearances in 16 seasons at Creighton and one at Kansas State.
Stubblefield has spent 13 seasons on Altman's staff and coached DePaul from 2021 to 2024. Oregon will conduct a national search for a permanent replacement after the season.
Altman's exit marks the third straight fall featuring a surprise retirement by a power-conference coach. Virginia's Tony Bennett stepped down in October 2024, and Auburn's Bruce Pearl retired last September.
Oregon opens its regular season Nov. 2 against Montana.
Dana Altman, the winningest coach in Oregon men’s basketball history, is retiring after 16 seasons, the school announced Wednesday. Longtime assistant Tony Stubblefield will serve as interim head coach of Oregon for the 2026-27 season.
“I’ve loved every minute of coaching here, and stepping away is difficult and truly painful,” said Altman. “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.”
The 68-year-old had pushed back against retirement speculation in recent seasons. Altman told ESPN last October that he had never felt ready to quit.
Altman leaves with a 792-425 record across 37 Division I seasons. His win total ranks 15th in NCAA history and fifth among active coaches.
He won a program-record 382 games at Oregon. Altman reached the NCAA tournament nine times with the Ducks, won at least one game in each appearance and made five Sweet 16 trips. He led Oregon to the Final Four in 2017.
Before last season’s 12-20 finish, Altman posted at least 20 wins in each of his first 15 seasons in Eugene. He also captured four Pac-12 regular-season titles and four Pac-12 tournament championships.
Altman previously coached at Marshall, Kansas State and Creighton. He made seven NCAA tournament appearances in 16 seasons at Creighton and one at Kansas State.
Stubblefield has spent 13 seasons on Altman’s staff and coached DePaul from 2021 to 2024. Oregon will conduct a national search for a permanent replacement after the season.
Altman’s exit marks the third straight fall featuring a surprise retirement by a power-conference coach. Virginia’s Tony Bennett stepped down in October 2024, and Auburn’s Bruce Pearl retired last September.
Oregon opens its regular season Nov. 2 against Montana.
