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Dana Altman Retires as Oregon's Winningest Men's Basketball Coach
Confirmed
In Short: Dana Altman, the winningest coach in Oregon men's basketball history, announced his retirement Wednesday after 16 seasons with the Ducks.
Dana Altman, who has coached the Oregon men's basketball team for 16 years, announced his retirement Wednesday, effective immediately. Altman, 68, leaves as the winningest coach in Oregon history with a 382-182 record.
Altman's tenure at Oregon included four Pac-12 regular-season championships and four Pac-12 tournament titles. He led the Ducks to nine NCAA Tournament appearances and their first Final Four in 78 years in 2017.
Prior to his time at Oregon, Altman coached at Marshall, Kansas State, and Creighton. His overall record in 37 seasons as a Division I coach is 792-425, the 15th-most wins in NCAA history and fifth highest among active coaches.
Athletic Director Rob Mullens praised Altman's impact on the program, saying, 'Winning 382 games over 16 years, including making nine NCAA tournaments and a Final Four, is an incredible track record. But the record book tells only part of the story. Dana and Reva have given so much of themselves to this university and to the young men who played for him, and we thank him for all his contributions to Oregon student-athletes, the game of basketball, and the University of Oregon.'
Assistant coach Tony Stubblefield, who has spent 13 seasons on Altman's staff, will serve as interim head coach for the 2026-27 season. Stubblefield left to coach at DePaul from 2021-24 before returning to Eugene in 2024.
Mullens also highlighted Stubblefield's familiarity with the program, stating, 'Tony has been on Dana's staff for most of his time in Eugene and knows this program as well as anyone. Our student-athletes know him and trust him, and he is the right person to lead the Ducks this season.'
Altman expressed his gratitude and mixed emotions about his retirement, saying, 'I love coaching, it’s what I know best and what I’ve been fortunate enough to do for almost five decades. But I know this is the right thing to do at this time.'
The University of Oregon will begin a national search for Altman’s successor after the season.
Assistant coach Stubblefield will take over the Ducks for the 2026-27 campaign before the school begins its search for Altman's replacement.
What's confirmed
- Dana Altman, the winningest coach in Oregon men's basketball history, is retiring after 16 seasons with the Ducks and nearly 40 years at the Division I level, the school announced Wednesday.
- "Winning 382 games over 16 years, including making nine NCAA tournaments and a Final Four, is an incredible track record. But the record book tells only part of the story. Dana and Reva have given so much of themselves to this university and to the young men who played for him, and we thank him for all his contributions to Oregon student-athletes, the game of basketball, and the University of Oregon."
- "... I'm going to miss my coaches, my players and our incredible fans more than I can express. But I know this is the right thing to do at this time."
- “Dana built a program at Oregon to a level that very few coaches build anywhere,” Mullens said.
- A national search for the permanent head coach of the program will begin following the season.
- “I love coaching, it’s what I know best and what I’ve been fortunate enough to do for almost five decades.” Altman, 68, went 382-182 at Oregon, leading the Ducks to nine NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2017 Final Four, their first in 78 years.
- “I’ve loved every minute of coaching here, and stepping away is difficult and truly painful,” Altman said in a statement released by the school.
- "I love coaching, it's what I know best and what I've been fortunate enough to do for almost five decades." Assistant coach Tony Stubblefield will serve as interim head coach for the 2026-27 season.
What's still developing
- He was named MVC Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002.
- Altman found even more success during his tenure at Oregon.
- “But I know this is the right thing to do at this time.” Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
- Oregon will open its basketball season with a coaching change few could have anticipated this close to tipoff.
- "I've never felt like I'm ready to quit yet," he told ESPN last October.