College football moves fast right now, but real leadership still takes time. This week on Y-Option, we sit down with Oregon State head coach JaMarcus Shephard to talk about the long road, the responsibility that comes with the head coach’s chair, and what it means to build something real in a moment defined by change.
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This week’s conversation features Oregon State Beavers head coach JaMarcus Shephard and a leadership journey defined by patience, purpose, and earned opportunity.
Coach Shephard’s path to Corvallis wasn’t fast or linear. It was built through years of service, curiosity, and taking on responsibility wherever it was available--inside and outside of football. That long-game perspective now shapes how he leads a program in an era dominated by speed, noise, and transaction.
We dive into how a wide range of coaching influences helped him find an authentic voice, why consistency matters more than image in the head coach’s chair, and how care, discipline, and accountability coexist in his program. At the core is a belief in creating a family environment--one that moves players from serving themselves to serving each other.
The conversation also explores the opportunity in front of Oregon State: a re-imagined Pac-12, a locker room with a chip on its shoulder, and a chance to build something lasting by setting a clear standard and living it daily.
It’s a conversation about culture, belief, and building something real--one rep, one relationship, one day at a time.
Enjoy today’s conversation, the national title game and by Tuesday morning the start of your off-season. And if you haven’t yet, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for insight all off-season long.
Much love and stay steady,
Yogi
