Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy seems set to return to the Cowboys for a twenty first season. The two sides are anticipated to get a restructured contract in place, a crew supply advised The Athletic on Saturday morning.
There is an expectation that the deal will probably be agreed upon earlier than the tip of the day, in line with the supply, after particulars of the deal started to get sorted out late Friday evening. As a part of the brand new contract, Gundy could be paid significantly lower than he beforehand had agreed to and the buyout construction of the deal additionally is anticipated to vary.
Gundy’s wage was $7.75 million in 2024 as a part of a perpetual five-year contract that was to increase every January, together with an annual elevate of $125,000. His buyout, had been he to be fired this month, could be roughly $25 million. The specifics of his restructured contract stay unclear at time of publish.
The crew supply indicated to The Athletic that Gundy needed this to be resolved rapidly because of the switch portal window opening Monday and this system needing to rent new offensive and defensive coordinators. Previous coordinators Kasey Dunn and Bryan Nardo had been fired earlier this week, per crew sources. They spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of the strikes haven’t been formally introduced.
Gundy’s future was momentarily unsure on Friday, because the decades-long partnership between the 57-year-old head coach and his alma mater got here underneath intense scrutiny. According to a crew supply, Oklahoma State approached Gundy with a restructured contract after a 3-9 season — the worst of his 20 on the helm — throughout which Gundy sparked outrage by saying the crew’s critics had been the identical individuals “that may’t pay their very own payments” and are “not taking good care of their very own job” final month.
The Cowboys misplaced 52-0 to Colorado final Friday to finish the 2024 season on a nine-game dropping streak and winless in Big 12 play. The three wins had been the bottom single-season complete of Gundy’s tenure and solely his second dropping season at Oklahoma State, and the blowout by Colorado was the worst defeat of Gundy’s profession.
On Friday morning, the Oklahoma A&M Colleges Board of Regents held a particular assembly with a said agenda of “analysis/evaluation and different info related to the employment of Oklahoma State University soccer employees.” The board met for roughly two hours in a personal government session, with college athletic director Chad Weiberg and president Kayse Shrum each current for a portion of it. No instant motion was taken, however after the assembly, chairman Jimmy Harrel advised native reporters who had been current: “We have a plan working. As quickly as we’ve got it tied down, we’ll inform you.”
The college approached Gundy with a restructured contract, and there have been discussions about firing Gundy for trigger, a crew supply advised The Athletic. That information was first reported by ESPN.
Gundy’s quotes directed on the crew’s critics got here throughout an ordinary midweek press convention following a house loss to Arizona State.“When they go to mattress at evening, they’re the identical failure that they had been earlier than they stated something unfavorable about anyone else,” stated Gundy. The remarks deeply offended outstanding Oklahoma State supporters and directors, in line with sources briefed on the state of affairs. Gundy and Shrum each launched subsequent apology statements.
It’s unclear if these feedback would have been grounds for a for-cause firing. Gundy’s earlier contract included a clause relating to “conduct affecting college,” the Tulsa World reported, which incorporates being concerned in any state of affairs that displays unfavorably on the popularity of the college.
This shouldn’t be the primary time Gundy has been compelled to restructure his contract amid controversy. In the summer season of 2020, in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, a photograph surfaced of Gundy carrying an OAN (One America News) Network shirt, a far-right, conspiratorial information outlet that mocked the Black Lives Matter motion. Active and former gamers spoke out, led by All-American operating again Chuba Hubbard, leading to a two-week inside investigation by the college.
Gundy saved his job, accepting a $1 million pay reduce that lowered his wage to $4.25 million in 2020 and lowered his rolling five-year contract to a four-year deal, whereas additionally tasked with strengthening his relationship along with his gamers. He recovered from that rapidly, inking an extension in 2021, amid a 12-2 season, that restored the five-year rollover and pushed his wage north of $7 million a yr.
Gundy has not been shy about his distaste for among the latest modifications in school soccer. He doesn’t thoughts that gamers can now earn cash for NIL or switch to new colleges, however the confluence of these issues has launched big-money free company in methods Gundy doesn’t admire.
In the midst of a nasty 2024 season, this sparked hypothesis that Gundy would possibly select to retire or stroll away from his place. Gundy shot down that sentiment following a loss to Texas Tech on Nov. 23.
“Are you saying am I going to get fired? There ain’t no method the previous girl is letting me retire, if that’s what you’re asking,” stated Gundy. “I’ve as a lot power now as I did once I took this job.”
The Cowboys signed 19 highschool recruits in the course of the 2025 early signing interval this week for a category that ranks 58th nationally, in line with 247Sports Composite rankings.
Gundy’s 169 profession wins, all with Oklahoma State, rank fifth amongst energetic school soccer coaches, and he’s the second-longest-tenured coach within the Football Bowl Subdivision behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz. Prior to 2024, the Cowboys had a streak of 18 straight successful seasons and bowl appearances underneath Gundy, together with three Big 12 title sport appearances, one convention championship (2011) and three BCS/New Year’s Six bowls.
(Photo: David Ok Purdy / Getty Images)
