Dana Altman Retires After Nearly Four Decades of Coaching

<p>Dana Altman has announced his retirement after 16 seasons as the head coach of the Oregon men's basketball team and nearly four decades in Division I coaching, according to a statement from the university on Wednesday.</p><p>Altman, 68, began his tenure with the Ducks in 2010. Tony Stubblefield, currently an assistant coach, will take over as interim head coach starting next season. "I've loved every minute of coaching here, and stepping away is difficult and truly painful," Altman stated. "I love coaching, it's what I know best and what I've been fortunate enough to do for almost five decades.</p><p>"... It's been the honor of my life to coach the Ducks," he added.</p><p>Oregon football coach Dan Lanning praised Altman, calling him "a great mentor" and "a Hall of Fame coach with what he’s been able to accomplish." Lanning expressed admiration for Altman's grounded nature and his coaching story.</p><p>Altman's retirement announcement was unexpected, following a challenging season for the Ducks, who finished with a 12-20 record. The program also faced significant changes, losing nine players to the transfer portal and three to graduation during the offseason.</p><p>Stubblefield has previously served as an assistant to Altman at Oregon and was the head coach at DePaul from 2021 to 2024 before returning to the Ducks.</p><p>Oregon athletic director Rob Mullins commented on Altman's achievements, noting that he won 382 games over 16 years, led the team to nine NCAA Tournaments, and reached a Final Four. "Dana and Reva have given so much of themselves to this university and to the young men who played for him, and we thank him for all his contributions to Oregon student-athletes, the game of basketball, and the University of Oregon," Mullins stated.</p><p><i>The Associated Press contributed to this report.</i></p>