Mike Gundy Fired: Oklahoma State Moves on After Two Decades
Oklahoma State University has officially fired longtime head football coach Mike Gundy, effective immediately. The decision ends one of the longest and most successful coaching history.
Mike Gundy’s time leading the Cowboys has come to an end after two decades. He leaves behind a truly impressive record of 170–90, which really speaks volumes about his lasting influence. That number of wins is far more than any other coach in Oklahoma State’s history; Pat Jones, who comes in second, had 62 victories.
Gundy’s lengthy run as coach changed Oklahoma State, making them a team that was always in the running. The Cowboys consistently had winning seasons from 2006 to 2023. Furthermore, there were eight times when the team got at least ten wins, something only three other OSU teams had managed before.
Some of the highlights of Gundy’s time at the helm include:
National Recognition: Eleven of Gundy’s teams made it into the AP Top 10, and they reached as high as No. 2 in 2011.
Standout Seasons: Two seasons ended with the team in the top 10 (No. 3 in 2011, No. 7 in 2021).
Offensive Firepower: His 2011 team put up an amazing 48.7 points per game, which was second in the nation. The 2017 offense also did extremely well, coming in second for total yards and first for passing yards.
Defensive Prowess: The team’s defense was strong in 2021, under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, giving up only 18.1 points per game, putting them in the top 10 in the country.
Memorable Wins: Gundy got 11 victories against AP Top 10 opponents, including unforgettable upsets against Missouri (2008), Baylor (2013), and their rivals, Oklahoma (2023).
A True Cowboy. Before he was a successful coach, Gundy was a star quarterback for the Cowboys. He still holds a prominent place in the record books, ranking fourth in career passing yards (8,473) and fifth in touchdown passes (57). He’s only behind quarterbacks he later coached, such as Mason Rudolph, Brandon Weeden, and Spencer Sanders.