Changemakers | A Conversation with Coach Jonathan Smith

Oregon State Head Football Coach Jonathan Smith, ‘01, has taken the Beavers from the bottom of the conference to historic back-to-back winning seasons! After walking onto the OSU football team as a freshman, he went on to earn the title of Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP in 2001. In 2017, Smith officially became the first OSU grad to become head coach of his alma mater and he continues to build and transform Beaver Football into a winning program.

Learn how Smith’s time as an undergraduate at OSU shaped his experiences on and off the field, why he is so committed to fostering a culture that develops good players and good humans — and get a glimpse of his vision for the upcoming football season. Go Beavs!

About the Speaker:

Jonathan Smith, ‘01, has served as head coach of OSU Football since 2017. As a player, he was the school’s all-time leading passer with 9,680 yards — he now ranks third among all Beaver quarterbacks in total passing yardage. Prior to returning to his alma mater as head coach, Smith served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Washington Huskies, a program that he helped build into a conference and national championship contender. He also honed his coaching skills with the Idaho Vandals, Montana Grizzlies and Boise State Broncos. During his tenure as head coach at OSU, Smith has worked to turn the program around with back-to-back winning seasons resulting in the Beavs besting rival University of Oregon and soundly defeating the Florida Gators in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl. He and his wife, Candice, have three children, Robert (13 years old), Bella (11 years old) and Charles (7 years old).

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