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

The coach who has manned the sideline for more games than any other coach is going off into the sunset.

Dana Altman has decided to retire after 16 seasons with the Ducks and nearly four decades as a , the school announced Wednesday.

Altman, 68, first took over Oregons program in 2010. Assistant coach Tony Stubblefield will assume Altmans 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.

"... It's been the honor of my life to coach the Ducks," he added.

Oregon football coach was among those offering praise for Altman.

"A great mentor, sees the game, and obviously a Hall of Fame coach with what hes been able to accomplish," Lanning said. "I love his story, and how grounded he is, and hes as good as they come."

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Altmans 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.

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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 making nine NCAA Tournaments and a Final Four, is an incredible track record. But the record book tells only part of the story," Oregon athletic director Rob Mullins said.

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"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."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.