OKLAHOMA State has fired the second-longest tenured coach in FBS.
Mike Gundy was fired on Tuesday after 20 years in charge of the Cowboys.
Mike Gundy has been fired by Oklahoma State[/caption]
Gundy coached OSU for 20 years before being fired[/caption]
Gundy was in his 21st season as the head coach of OSU, second only to Iowa Head coach, Kirk Ferentz, who has been coaching the team since 1999.
His firing comes after Oklahoma State fell to 1-2 in a 19-12 loss to Tulsa on Friday.
“Cowboy Football reached an unprecedented level of success and national prominence under Coach Gundy’s leadership,” OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg said in a statement.
“I believe I speak for OSU fans everywhere when I say that we are grateful for all he did to raise the standard and show us all what is possible for Oklahoma State football.”
Gundy’s firing comes less than a day after Gundy made a statement saying he “100 percent” intended to stay with the program.
“I’m under contract, here, for I think 3½ years,” Gundy said Monday.
“When I was hired here to take this job, ever since that day, I’ve put my heart and soul into this and I will continue to do that until at some point, if I say I don’t want to do it or if somebody else says we don’t want you to do it.”
Gundy was set to make $6.75 million from OSU in the 2025 season.
Based on his contract, he will be owed $15 million in a buyout from the university.
“This is a decision about what’s best for our football program, our student-athletes and Oklahoma State University and it reflects our unwavering commitment to championship-level football and competing for national success,” university president Jim Hess said in a statement.
“Coach Gundy dedicated decades of his life to OSU, achieving significant success and positively impacting hundreds of young men who wore the OSU uniform.
“His contributions to our university, both as a player and coach, deserve our profound respect and will not be forgotten.
“We are grateful for his service and wish him and his family the very best.”
According to ESPN, offensive coordinator Doug Meacham has been named interim head coach.
Gundy joined OSU in 2005, coaching the team to a 170-90 record over that time.
The school finished with eight 10-win seasons in his two-decade tenure.
College football top 25 rankings
BELOW are the AP top 25 rankings of college football’s best programs.
- Ohio State (3-0)
- Miami (4-0)
- Penn State (3-0)
- LSU (4-0)
- Georgia (3-0)
- Oregon (4-0)
- Oklahoma (4-0)
- Florida State (3-0)
- Texas A&M (3-0)
- Texas (3-1)
- Indiana (4-0)
- Texas Tech (4-0)
- Ole Miss (4-0)
- Iowa State (4-0)
- Tennessee (3-1)
- Georgia Tech (4-0)
- Alabama (2-1)
- Vanderbilt (4-0)
- Michigan (3-1)
- Missouri (4-0)
- USC (4-0)
- Notre Dame (1-2)
- Illinois (3-1)
- TCU (3-0)
- BYU (3-0)
*Poll released on September 21
Before he joined, OSU only had three double-digit win seasons in its 104 year history.
OSU only finished with a losing record twice in Gundy’s 20 seasons, but the team is currently on a stretch of losing 11 of its last 12 games.
“College football has changed drastically in the last few years, and the investment needed to compete at the highest level has never been more important,” Weiberg said.
“As we search for the next head coach of Cowboy Football, we are looking for someone who can lead our program in this new era.
“… Moving forward, it is critical for our fans, alumni and donors to align behind Cowboy Football.
“This is a pivotal moment, the stakes have never been higher and we need everyone on board.”
