Could more changes be coming to Oklahoma State?
The school’s board of directors met Friday morning and is reportedly in a “showdown” with coach Mike Gundy, according to ESPN.
Sources: Mike Gundy is in a matchup with Oklahoma State. He’s telling people that they came to him and asked him to accept a restructured contract, which is expected to include a pay cut. But they have not yet provided him with any details. pic.twitter.com/rCXlHRQ29b
– Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 6, 2024
Oklahoma State went 3-9 in 2024. It was the worst season of Gundy’s 20-year tenure. After Friday’s board meetingPresident Jimmy Harrel said “we have a plan.” The board was in executive session Friday to seek “information relevant to the employment of the Oklahoma State University football staff.”
According to multiple reports, Oklahoma State will offer a restructured contract for Gundy. According to ESPN, Gundy could be fired for cause if he doesn’t accept the deal.
According to the USA Today salary database, Gundy is the 17th highest-paid coach in college football annually with total compensation of more than $7.7 million. Its purchase is just over $25.3 million. If he was fired for cause, Oklahoma State can argue that Gundy is not owed anything from the buyout.
Oklahoma State recently fired its offensive and defensive coordinators after a dismal season. Oklahoma State’s offense was plagued by turnovers and the defense allowed nearly seven yards per play and 36 points per game.
The porous season came just a year after the Cowboys played Texas for the Big 12 title and finished 10-4. Oklahoma State opened the season as a favorite in the Big 12, but finished 0-9 in Big 12 play. Running back Ollie Gordon ran for more than 850 fewer yards in 2024 than he did in 2023, when he finished seventh in Heisman voting.
Gundy also didn’t do himself any favors when he had to apologize “to those who were offended by my comments during Monday’s media call” for his November comments about fan criticism. As OSU went 0-6 in the Big 12, Gundy said that “most people are weak” when things don’t go well and even went so far as to say “in most cases, people who are negative and express their opinion are the same ones who can’t pay their own bills.”
Oklahoma State had played 18 consecutive bowl games under Gundy in a streak dating back to his sophomore season. The three wins the school recorded were the fewest since a 3-8 season in 2000.