After an incredibly successful first year as the Oregon State defensive coordinator, Trent Bray has received a contract extension.

The Beavers announced the extension, which will take Bray through the 2024 season, on Monday. Bray was an assistant coach for the Beavers from 2012-14 before returning in December 2017 as the linebackers coach. He was named the interim defensive coordinator on Nov. 7, 2021, and then had the interim tag removed a month later.

“Coach Bray has done a tremendous job since he took over as the defensive coordinator, and we needed to reward him for the hard work he has done to lead that group,” head coach Jonathan Smith said in a statement. “He has a passion and energy for Oregon State University, our football program and all of the players he has coached. We are thrilled he wants to remain in Corvallis to keep the momentum moving forward.”

 

The Beavers won their ninth game on Saturday against Oregon, securing the first nine-win season in Corvallis since 2012. They did so, in part, by holding the Ducks to just three points over the final 19:46 of game clock to complete a 21-point comeback.

In Bray’s first full season in charge, the Beavers rank second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense and first in yards allowed per play. They’ve improved in nearly every statistical category of significance:

  • 25.8 PPG (2021) down to 21.4 PPG (2022)
  • 4.1 yards per run allowed down to 4.0
  • 7.3 yards per pass allowed down to 6.3
  • 5.7 yards per play allowed down to 5.3
  • 50.3% third-down rate allowed down to 39%
  • 59.3% red zone touchdown rate allowed down to 50%

Oregon State had what the program is calling one of the biggest goal line stands in program history in last week’s win over Oregon. The Ducks had first-and-goal at OSU’s 5-yard-line in the final minutes but were stopped on three straight run plays and then turned it over on downs with a fourth-down incompletion.

For the first time in school history, the Beavers have had three different players selected as the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Week.

“I am grateful that Coach Smith and the Oregon State administration have made a commitment to our football program,” Bray said. “I look forward to continue the hard work with our excellent coaching staff and student-athletes that we’ve done to improve defensively. I consider Corvallis my home and am excited to keep building this program the right way.”