Oregon made Dana Altman’s retirement and Tony Stubblefield’s appointment as interim men’s basketball coach official on Wednesday, turning an initially reported change into an immediate transition less than a month before the 2026–27 season.
ESPN reporter Pete Thamel reported the official announcement after earlier crediting Field of 68 with breaking the news. Altman said in Oregon’s release, “But I know this is the right thing to do at this time.”
At an emotional news conference, Altman said he had lost the energy to coach and did not believe he could do the job well if he was not fully committed physically, according to reporter Matt Prehm. Altman said health factored into the decision but added that he was not dealing with anything serious.
The retirement closes a 37-season head-coaching career. The NCAA’s March Madness account credited Altman with 792 wins, 17 NCAA tournament appearances, one Final Four appearance and three Pac-12 Coach of the Year awards. USA Today Sports described him as the winningest coach in Oregon men’s basketball history.
Stubblefield, a longtime Oregon assistant and former DePaul head coach, will lead the Ducks on an interim basis for the season. Oregon’s appointment was also noted by the NCAA’s March Madness account.
