Skip to content

Andersen sacrifices $12M by walking away from Oregon State

Russ Isabella / USA TODAY Sports

By walking away from his contract at Oregon State, Gary Andersen sacrificed approximately $12 million still owed to him by the school.

Andersen and the Beavers announced Monday they've mutually agreed to part ways at the halfway point of his third campaign in Corvallis. In conceding his coaching tenure as a disappointment, Andersen let the university to keep the money he said he didn't deserve.

"After many discussions with Scott, waiving my contract is the correct decision and enables the young men and the program to move forward and concentrate on the rest of this season," he said. "Coaching is not about the mighty dollar."

Andersen signed a contract extension with the university in December 2016 that had tied him to the program through the 2021 season. He finished his stint at Oregon State with a 7-23 record.

"Coach Andersen's decision to waive his remaining compensation is unprecedented in major college athletics," a gracious athletic director Scott Barnes stated. "His decision is made for the right reasons and values, and it speaks volumes about the kind of honorable person that Gary Andersen is."

Andersen enjoyed a healthy two-year stint at Wisconsin before coming to Oregon State, leading the Badgers to a 19-7 record from 2013-14.

The Beavers, which named assistant Cory Hall their interim head coach, will take a 1-5 record into Saturday's meeting with Colorado.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox