Mike Gundy is returning as the head coach of Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State announced on Saturday that Gundy has agreed to a new contract. This change comes after a tough 3-9 season for the Cowboys, who were expected to be one of the top teams in the Big 12. Injuries and quarterback struggles led to a disappointing year, which ended with a 52-0 loss at Colorado.
Gundy has previously discussed how hard it is to compete financially in today’s college football world, and it seems that his new deal will reflect this. Reports before the announcement mentioned that some of Gundy’s salary would be reallocated to help with revenue sharing for the players.
The school said that further details would be shared once the contract is officially signed.
“We are happy to announce that we have agreed on a new contract with the winningest coach in OSU history with terms that benefit Oklahoma State University, OSU student-athletes and Cowboy Football,” the university stated.
The school’s Board of Regents had a special meeting on Friday morning to discuss Gundy’s future, but no immediate action was taken.
Gundy’s record of 169 wins over 20 years and his success, including two Big 12 title game appearances in the last four years, plus a large buyout, likely kept him from being fired. The Cowboys had won the Big 12 in 2011 and had played in bowl games for 18 consecutive years before this season.
This year’s struggles were unusual for the Cowboys, and Gundy angered fans when he responded to critics.
“In most cases, the people that are negative and voicing their opinion are the same ones that can’t pay their own bills,” Gundy said. “They’re not taking care of themselves. They’re not taking care of their own family. They’re not taking care of their own job. But they have an obligation to speak out and complain about others because it makes them feel better.
“But then, in the end, when they go to bed at night, they’re the same failure that they were before they said anything negative about anybody else.”
Gundy has apologized multiple times over the years for some of his comments and actions. In 2020, he apologized for calling COVID-19 the “Chinese Virus.” He also apologized that same year after wearing a T-shirt featuring the far-right One America News Network, which upset star running back Chuba Hubbard.
Reports also say that Oklahoma State has parted ways with offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo.
Dunn became offensive coordinator in 2020 and held the position last season, when running back Ollie Gordon II won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back. However, Gordon didn’t have the same success this season, and the offensive line struggled to create opportunities for him.
Nardo, hired in 2023, had a good first year as defensive coordinator but coached much of this season without injured stars Nick Martin and Collin Oliver. Martin had been named the Big 12’s top defensive player in the AP’s mid-season awards.
The Cowboys had the worst defense in the Big 12 this year, ranking last in both points and yards allowed. They gave up 500.6 yards per game, the most of any team in the 16-team league.
