Dana Altman retires from Oregon weeks before season: ‘Truly painful’

Oregon will open its basketball season with a coaching change few could have anticipated this close to tipoff.

Dana Altman announced his retirement Wednesday, ending a 16-season run as the Ducks’ winningest coach less than a month before their Nov. 2 opener against Montana.

Longtime assistant Tony Stubblefield will serve as interim coach this season. Oregon plans to conduct a search for a permanent replacement after the season.

“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.”

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.

His final season was considerably tougher. As USA Today noted, injuries and inconsistent play contributed to a 12-20 finish, including a 5-15 record in the Big Ten.

Stubblefield brings familiarity to a team preparing to begin its schedule. He spent 11 seasons on Altman’s staff before becoming DePaul’s head coach, then returned to Oregon in 2024.

“I’m going to miss my coaches, my players and our incredible fans more than I can express,” Altman said. “But I know this is the right thing to do at this time.”