Oregon State Beavers finally return old face as offensive coordinator coach official announcement imminent

Mike Hass was a legend at Oregon State, a name etched into the program’s lore. He’d come in as a walk-on and transformed into one of the most prolific wide receivers in college football, becoming the first player in Pac-10 history to top 1,000 receiving yards for three consecutive seasons. His senior year had been a dream—over 1,500 receiving yards, Biletnikoff Award honors, and recognition as an All-American. The memory of his fearless catches, running routes across the middle, and shrugging off hits like they were nothing lingered in fans’ minds, even years later.

After his college days, Hass had taken his shot at the NFL. Although his career didn’t pan out quite like his college days, he never lost his love for the game. He bounced around a bit, worked in various roles, but that orange and black never left his heart. And when the call came from Oregon State offering him a role as the wide receivers coach—a position where he could impart his knowledge and grit to a new generation of Beavers—he couldn’t say no.

Hass’s arrival at the Oregon State practice facility was surreal. The campus had changed, yet everything was somehow the same. He still felt the chill in the early morning, the smell of the freshly cut grass, the echoes of past games filling the stadium in his mind. This time, though, he was a coach, a mentor, the one guiding young athletes to their potential.

The players took to him immediately. He didn’t look like a former star player—Hass had always been unassuming, modest. But they quickly realized he had the kind of knowledge only someone who’d lived and breathed football for decades could share. His attention to detail was relentless; he showed them how to make subtle adjustments to their footwork, how to read defensive backs, how to make the tough catches, and, most importantly, how to play with heart.

In his first season as a bench coach, he worked closely with the receivers. He pushed them hard but always kept an easy, approachable demeanor. Under his guidance, the receivers improved dramatically. Drops were down, yards after catch were up, and most of all, they were playing with the fearlessness he was known for.

Hass didn’t crave the spotlight; he was happiest seeing his players succeed. But as Oregon State’s offense began to light up the field, whispers spread about the magic Hass was bringing to the team. Fans filled the stadium with “Hass” jerseys from years past, honoring the return of one of their own. The team was having one of its best seasons in years, and Hass’s impact was unmistakable.

As the season wound down, Oregon State found themselves one win away from a major bowl game—a feat they hadn’t achieved in years. The night before the game, Hass gathered his players for a quiet talk. He spoke about what it meant to be a Beaver, the sacrifices he’d made, the pride that came with donning the black and orange. His players hung on every word, fired up by a man who had been there and done it all, a man who knew what it meant to leave it all on the field.

Oregon State won that game in spectacular fashion, with a last-minute drive where one of his receivers made a game-winning catch reminiscent of Hass’s prime. The players lifted him up on their shoulders afterward, celebrating not just the victory but the culture and heart he’d brought back to the program. Mike Hass was home, and Oregon State football was stronger than ever.