CHICAGO -- When coach Dana Altman told his team to come into the film room after practice on Wednesday, Oregon senior Andrew Meadow did not expect a serious announcement.
"I thought it was going to be maybe some new shoes or something," Meadow said at Big Ten media day on Thursday.
Instead, Altman dropped a stunner on his Ducks team: He was retiring, effective immediately.
"It was a shock to everybody and there was definitely a lot of emotions going on in the room when he told us," Meadow said. "And I felt for Coach, he didn't want to walk away, but it took guts to be able to do that. And I'm happy for his next chapter."
While it came out of nowhere for Oregon's players, it was something Altman had been mulling for about a week. He went to assistant coach -- and now interim head coach -- Tony Stubblefield on Friday, letting him know that he was thinking about stepping down. Altman and Stubblefield then met again on Monday, before Altman met with athletic director Rob Mullens on Tuesday.
After sleeping on his decision for one more night, Altman still hadn't changed his mind.
"He just didn't feel like he had the energy and was the right guy to lead this group of young men," Stubblefield said on Thursday. "He really liked this group of young men in that locker room and he knows it is a very talented team in that locker room. He just didn't feel like he had the energy to lead those guys."
Oregon had a down season in 2025-26, finishing just 12-20 overall and 5-15 in the Big Ten. It was the first time since Altman took over in 2010 that the Ducks didn't win at least 20 games.
"We had a challenging year last year," Stubblefield said. "I think that took a lot out of him."
Stubblefield said Altman tried to delegate more in the early weeks of practice, but after a couple days of a more hands-off approach, he went back to being involved in all aspects.
"It got to be a lot on him," Stubblefield said. "It got to be really draining and I'm sure that's when he came to the realization that he just didn't have the energy to do it."
Because Oregon opted to promote from within, naming Stubblefield the interim coach for the season, the transfer portal won't open for the Ducks' roster for 31 days after Altman's departure. The regular season will be underway by that point -- but Meadow and teammate Fred Payne don't think the team will split regardless.
"We can't let this break us apart," Boise State transfer Meadow said. "And I think from the vibes in the locker room yesterday after we all went back in, we're a very motivated group. We have a lot of talent. My teammates are very, very talented players. We all have a chip on our shoulder. We all want to win and I think we have a very, very good group."
"I'm basically telling all my teammates, just stay together," added Payne, who transferred in from Boston College this offseason. "We're going to be beside each other. Obviously a lot going on over the last 24 hours, but rough times like this kind of bring you closer together as a team. So once you have a chip on your shoulder, the results will show."
Altman's decision resonated throughout the Big Ten, as the 68-year-old's announcement marked the third consecutive fall in which a power-conference head coach opted to retire, following Virginia's Tony Bennett in 2024 and Auburn's Bruce Pearl last season.
"I want to congratulate Dana Altman on his career," Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said. "Just remarkable career. Fifteenth all time in wins; all-time winningest coach at Oregon. Great program. He's done a remarkable job. We'll miss him, but we wish him well in everything that will come next for him and his family."
Indiana coach Darian DeVries, who started his coaching career as a graduate manager and then an assistant coach under Altman at Creighton, also weighed in on his mentor's retirement.
"He's one of the best that's ever done it, when you look at his track record," DeVries said. "I think he's one of those guys nationally that maybe doesn't even get enough credit for the career he's had. I'm incredibly happy for him ... Special, special person. And an elite level coach on top of it."
Stubblefield isn't ready for Altman to completely leave Oregon and college basketball behind just yet, though.
"I don't even think words can describe what we're losing, in my opinion," he said. "More than a coach, [he's] a great person, a great leader of young men, both on and off the court.
"We just lost a great person, but we haven't lost him. He'll still be around. We're not going to let him sail off into the sunset. We ain't going to let him go that easy."