JaMarcus Shephard

JaMarcus Shephard (born May 30, 1983) is an American college football coach. He has been the head coach for Oregon State University since November 2025.

Playing career Shephard played wide receiver at DePauw University from 2001 to 2004. He finished his career third all-time in school history for career all-purpose yards and first in career kickoff yardage, a record that still stood as of 2019.

Coaching career Shephard did not initially pursue a career coaching college football, choosing to work at the NCAA's Education Services Division in order to maintain a steady flow of income. He did coach high school football at his alma mater Northrop High School as a wide receivers coach in 2005, before joining the football staff at Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis as the team's wide receivers and defensive backs coach. He also did a stint at his other alma mater DePauw as a volunteer assistant on the university's track and field team.

Western Kentucky After working at the National Center for Drug-Free Sport for four years, Shephard decided to accept a volunteer coaching position on Willie Taggart's staff at Western Kentucky. After Taggart was hired to be the head coach at South Florida, Shephard decided to stay at Western Kentucky under new head coach Bobby Petrino as an offensive quality control assistant working with the wide receivers on shifting the Hilltoppers from a heavy-run offense to a more balanced one. Shephard was promoted to wide receivers coach in 2014, this time on newly hired head coach Jeff Brohm's staff. He was also promoted to special teams coach for the 2015 season.

Washington State After Hilltoppers offensive coordinator Tyson Helton resigned to accept an assistant coaching position at USC on his brother Clay's staff, Shephard was offered a promotion to offensive coordinator. Shephard declined the promotion and instead accepted a position on Mike Leach's staff at Washington State as the inside wide receivers coach.

Purdue After Jeff Brohm was hired to be the next head coach at Purdue, Shephard joined his staff as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. He was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2018 following the resignation of Tony Levine.

Washington On January 12, 2022, it was announced that Shephard would join the Washington Huskies as the associate head coach, passing game coordinator, and wide receivers coach.

Alabama On February 20, 2024, it was announced that Shephard would be following Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama to become the team's assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator (alongside Nick Sheridan), and wide receivers coach.

Oregon State On November 27, 2025, Shephard was reported to be the main target to become the new head coach at Oregon State. A day later, the university announced he had been hired to be their next head coach.

Personal life A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Shephard attended Northrop High School before attending DePauw University. Shephard and his wife Hallie have three children, Jaylan, Alana, and Maliyah.

Head coaching record