Oregon State has promoted from within in its football program, elevating defensive coordinator Trent Bray to head coach.

Bray has been on the Beavers’ staff as linebackers coach since 2018, adding the coordinator title in 2022. He replaces Jonathan Smith, who left over the weekend to become head coach at Michigan State.

“I’m excited to be able to announce Trent as our next head coach,” Oregon State athletics director Scott Barnes said. “After interviewing several qualified candidates, we realized our top choice, Trent, has already been a mainstay at the Valley Football Center and Reser Stadium. He’s been a part of Beaver Nation for a long time and love for this place is real.

“The connection and trust he has built with our student athletes is unmatched. His energy and determination as head coach will be a catalyst for continued program success.”

As Smith was, Bray is a former star player at Oregon State. He played linebacker for the Beavers from 2002-05, earning All-Pac-10 honors as a senior.

The 41-year-old Bray has also coached at Arizona State and Nebraska, where he briefly was interim head coach following the firing of Mike Riley in 2017. Oregon State is 8-4 this season, and will learn its bowl destination on Sunday.

“I’d like to thank Scott Barnes and President Jayathi Murthy for this opportunity,” Bray said. “I’ve been a part of Oregon State for a long time, as a coach and a student-athlete, and know how special Beaver Nation is. I’m excited to lead an outstanding group of men our fans can be proud of.”

Bray’s promotion leaves Indiana, Houston and Duke as Power 5 schools with head-coaching vacancies. In addition to Michigan State hiring Smith, Northwestern, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Syracuse have also filled openings in the last several days.