A veteran of more than two decades in college football, including 21 within the Pac-12 Conference, Dan Van De Riet joined the Cougars program as Head Coach Kirby Moore’s Chief of Staff.
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Van De Riet spent the previous two seasons (2024-25) with Head Coach Jonathan Smith at Michigan State as the Spartans’ chief of staff. Van De Riet managed and coordinated all aspects of the daily operations of the Michigan State football program while also handling Smith’s schedule.
Van De Riet previously served as the chief of staff and director of football operations at Oregon State for six seasons (2018-23) under Smith. Overall, Van De Riet was with Oregon State for 20 years, serving in various roles from 2001-14.
As chief of staff and director of operations at OSU after returning to Corvallis, Van De Riet oversaw Oregon State’s football day-to-day operations in addition to serving as liaison with other departments. Van De Riet was also responsible for travel, the team’s budget and staffing for OSU’s football office.
Prior to his role as Oregon State chief of staff and director of operations, Van De Riet was associate athletic director of football administration at Nebraska for three seasons (2015-17) under Mike Riley.
Van De Riet’s first stint at Oregon State started in 2001, serving as the assistant director of football operations. In 2008, he was promoted to director of football operations, then associate athletic director in 2014.
During his time at both Oregon State and Nebraska, Van De Riet served on the Rose Bowl Advisory Committee, and played a role in planning 13 bowl games, including 11 during his two stints with OSU.
Before beginning his time with the Beavers, Van De Riet was at fellow Pac-12 foe Stanford as a student manager.
A native of Gilroy, California, Van De Riet earned his bachelor’s degree from San José State in kinesiology and a minor in special education in 2000. During his time as a student at SJSU, Van De Riet was a student assistant equipment manager with the Spartans’ football program, as well as assisting with game-day Spartan Stadium preparation, summer camps and on-campus recruiting.
Van De Riet and his wife, Sabrina, have two daughters, Sevennah and Reese, and a son, Preston.
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PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
2026-Present: Washington State – Chief of Staff
2024-25: Michigan State - Chief of Staff
2017-23: Oregon State - Chief of Staff/Director of Football Operations
2015-17: Nebraska - Associate Athletic Director for Football Operations/Administration
2014: Oregon State - Associate Athletic Director for Football Operations
2008-13: Oregon State - Director of Football Operations
2001-07: Oregon State Assistant Director of Football Operations
2000: Stanford - Student equipment manager at Stanford
1995-99: San José State - Student equipment manager
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