Jonathan Smith to MSU; 5 Oregon State head coach candidates
1. Bronco Mendenhall
A few Oregon State alumni are likely to be in consideration for the Beavers鈥� head-coaching vacancy and Mendenhall is arguably the most notable of the group, as well as the most experienced. The 44-year-old played defensive back in the 1980s for the Beavers and got his coaching career started with his alma mater. He later returned to Corvallis in the mid-1990s as a defensive assistant. Mendenhall went on to spend 11 seasons at BYU, leading the Cougars to a bowl game each year with a 99-43 record overall. Hired by Virginia in 2016, Mendenhall was not quite as successful with a 36-38 record before stepping down in 2021. Despite some interest in recent years, Mendenhall has held out for the right opportunity and this might be it.
