Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy’s job status has come into question in the wake of the worst season of his 20 at the helm for the Cowboys, along with disparaging comments he made last month directed at those who have been critical of the team this season.
Oklahoma State finished 3-9 in 2024, including 0-9 in Big 12 play, ending the season last Friday with a 52-0 loss to Colorado.
The Oklahoma A&M Colleges Board of Regents held a special meeting Friday morning with a stated agenda of “evaluation/assessment and other information relevant to the employment of Oklahoma State University football staff.” The board met for roughly two hours in a private executive session, of which university athletic director Chad Weiberg and president Kayse Shrum were both present for a portion. No immediate action was taken from the executive session, but board chairman Jimmy Harrel told local reporters who were present: “We have a plan working. As soon as we have it tied down, we’ll inform you.”
Multiple outlets reported that Gundy has been approached with a restructured contract. Gundy, a former quarterback at Oklahoma State, is currently on a perpetual five-year contract. His current buyout if fired would be roughly $25 million. A team source told The Athletic that there have been discussions about firing Gundy for cause.
Gundy’s contract includes a clause that addresses “conduct affecting university,” according to the Tulsa World, which includes being involved in any situation that reflects unfavorably on the reputation of the university. Previous attempts in college sports to fire coaches for cause have been met with legal challenges.
A dreadful season on the field for the Cowboys was exacerbated by tone-deaf comments made by Gundy last month, when he referred to those who have been critical of Oklahoma State this season as “the same ones that can’t pay their own bills,” adding, “when they go to bed at night, they’re the same failure that they were before they said anything negative about anybody else.”
The comments came during a midweek news conference after a home loss to Arizona State.
“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,” Gundy said of the critics. “But they have an obligation to speak out and complain about others because it makes them feel better.”
The quotes sparked outrage and attention locally and nationally, and deeply offended prominent Oklahoma State supporters and administrators, according to sources briefed on the situation. Gundy and Shrum both released subsequent apology statements.
#OKState University President Dr. Kayse Shrum released a statement Wednesday regarding Mike Gundy’s comments. pic.twitter.com/t77LZv8J0d
— McClain (@McclainBaxley) November 7, 2024
This was not the first time the head coach has been involved in controversy. In the summer of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a photo surfaced of Gundy wearing an OAN (One America News) Network shirt, a far-right, conspiratorial news outlet that mocked the Black Lives Matter movement. Active and former players spoke out, led by All-American running back Chuba Hubbard, resulting in a two-week internal investigation by the university. Gundy accepted a reduced salary and was tasked with strengthening his relationship with his players. He inked a new extension during a 2021 season in which the Cowboys finished 12-2.
Despite finishing 10-4 and reaching the Big 12 championship in 2023 and returning 20 starters on offense and defense in 2024 — including reigning Doak Walker Award winning running back Ollie Gordon II — Oklahoma State was the worst team in a newly wide-open, Texas- and Oklahoma-free Big 12. The Cowboys were outscored 366-198 in league play. It was only the second losing season of Gundy’s head-coaching career, and the three wins are his lowest single-season total.
OSU on Wednesday fired offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo, per team sources. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the moves have not been officially announced.
Gundy has previously voiced his issues with the new era of college football and how the combination of name, image and likeness compensation and unlimited transfers have introduced free agency to the sport, but without binding contracts for players. In the midst of a bad season, this sparked speculation that Gundy might choose to retire or walk away from his position. Gundy shot down that sentiment following the loss to Texas Tech on Nov. 23.
“Are you saying am I going to get fired? There ain’t no way the old lady is letting me retire, if that’s what you’re asking,” said Gundy. “I have as much energy now as I did when I took this job. … And even though we’re in a really tough situation here that we haven’t been in in 18 years, I’m excited to come to work tomorrow.”
Bruce Feldman contributed reporting.
(Photo: David K Purdy / Getty Images)
