Dana Altman ends nearly four decade coaching career at Oregon: 'Stepping away is truly painful'

Dana Altman has decided to retire after 16 seasons with the Ducks and nearly four decades as a Division I coach, the school announced Wednesday.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.

This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.Altman, 68, first took over Oregon’s program in 2010.Assistant coach Tony Stubblefield will assume Altman’s responsibilities on an interim basis beginning next season.

"I've loved every minute of coaching here, and stepping away is difficult and truly painful," Altman said in a statement."I love coaching, it's what I know best and what I've been fortunate enough to do for almost five decades.Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman watches the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on Jan.

2, 2026, in College Park, Maryland.(G Fiume/Getty Images)"...

It's been the honor of my life to coach the Ducks," he added.Oregon football coach Dan Lanning was among those offering praise for Altman."A great mentor, sees the game, and obviously a Hall of Fame coach with what he’s been able to accomplish," Lanning said."I love his story, and how grounded he is, and he’s as good as they come."BASKETBALL HALL OF FAMER DON NELSON DEAD AT 86Altman’s announcement came as a surprise, but the Ducks have experienced some upheaval.

They struggled last season, going 12-20, and the program lost nine players to the transfer portal and three to graduation in the offseason.Head coach Dana Altman of the Oregon Ducks watches the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on Jan.2, 2026, in College Park, Md.

(Getty Images)THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!Stubblefield has spent two stints as an assistant to Altman at Oregon.

He left to become head coach at DePaul from 2021-24 before returning to the Ducks."Winning 382 games over 16 years, including...