Oklahoma State Fires Longtime Football Coach Mike Gundy After Over 20 Years
Oklahoma State University has fired head football coach Mike Gundy after over 20 years, despite a 170-90 record, following recent losing seasons and a significant $15 million payout.
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Overview
- Oklahoma State University fired head football coach Mike Gundy after his more than 20-year tenure, a decision that has sparked controversy and fan outrage among supporters.
- Gundy led the Cowboys to a 170-90 record, including a Big 12 championship in 2011 and two Big 12 title game appearances in 2021 and 2023.
- The firing followed a significant downturn in performance, with the team posting losing records in his final two years and losing 11 of its last 12 games.
- The Cowboys' recent struggles included losing their last nine games, many by blowout margins, which ultimately led to the university's decision to terminate his contract.
- As part of his departure from Oklahoma State, Mike Gundy is slated to receive a substantial $15 million payout, concluding his long-standing coaching career.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Mike Gundy's firing as the end of a "colorful" and "quirky" era, highlighting his past successes while emphasizing his recent struggles and inability to adapt to modern college football's "business side." The narrative balances his long tenure and achievements with his controversial moments and the team's declining performance, portraying him as a complex figure whose time ultimately ran out.
"His personality wasn’t enough as college football changed."
Associated Press"The fall from grace was fast for the program, as the Cowboys earned a spot in the Big 12 championship in 2023, and also beat archrival Oklahoma in the final Bedlam game before the Sooners left for the SEC after that season."
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FAQ
Mike Gundy was fired due to a significant downturn in team performance, including losing records in his final two years and losing 11 of the last 12 games, with the Cowboys losing their last nine games often by large margins.
Mike Gundy compiled a 170-90 record, led the Cowboys to a Big 12 championship in 2011, two Big 12 title game appearances in 2021 and 2023, and secured 18 bowl appearances over 20 years with 12 bowl wins.
Oklahoma State University agreed to a substantial $15 million payout as part of Mike Gundy's contract buyout upon his termination.
Gundy developed a 'Cowboy Culture' based on consistent decision-making and empowering others, leading to the program's era of greatest sustained success and improving the team’s winning percentage from below 50% to over 65%.
Mike Gundy was a starting quarterback at Oklahoma State from 1986 to 1989, became the all-time leading passer in school and Big Eight Conference history, and served as an assistant and coordinator at the university before becoming head coach in 2005.
History
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