Mike Gundy has redone his deal to stay as Oklahoma State’s football coach.
According to multiple reports, Gundy and the school have agreed to a restructured deal following a winless season in Big 12 play. ESPN reported Friday that OSU and Gundy were in a “standoff” over a redone deal following a board of regents meeting that morning.
Oklahoma State went 3-9 in 2024. It was the worst season of Gundy’s 20-year tenure. After the board meeting on Friday, chair Jimmy Harrel said “we have a plan.” The board was in executive session for “information relevant to the employment of Oklahoma State University football staff.”
Per USA Today’s salary database, Gundy is the 17th-highest paid coach in college football on an annual basis with a total compensation of over $7.7 million. His buyout is just over $25.3 million as the former Oklahoma State quarterback has been on a rolling five-year deal.
Oklahoma State recently fired both its offensive and defensive coordinators after the dismal season. Oklahoma State’s offense was plagued by turnovers and the defense allowed nearly seven yards a play and 36 points per game.
The porous season came just a year after the Cowboys played Texas for the Big 12 title and went 10-4. Oklahoma State opened the season as a favorite in the Big 12 but went 0-9 in Big 12 play. RB Ollie Gordon rushed for over 850 yards fewer in 2024 than he did in 2023, when he finished seventh in the Heisman voting.
Gundy also didn’t do himself any favors when he had to apologize “to those who my comments during Monday’s media call offended” for November comments about fan criticism. As OSU was 0-6 in the Big 12, Gundy said that “most people are weak” when things aren’t going well and even went as far as to say “in most cases, the people who are negative and voicing their opinion are the same ones that can’t pay their own bills.”
Oklahoma State had gone to 18 straight bowl games under Gundy in a streak that dated back to his second season. The three wins the school posted were the fewest since a 3-8 season in 2000.
