Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy has been fired after more than two decades at the helm of the Cowboys, the school announced Tuesday. The move ends a tenure that once positioned the program among the Big 12’s elite. Gundy, 58, the second-longest tenured FBS coach, departs after a steep decline during the past two seasons, including a 3-9 record in 2024 and a 1-2 start to 2025 following the disappointing loss to Tulsa in Week 4.

“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 cham- pionship-level football and competing for national success,” said Oklahoma State President Jim Hess said in a statement released by the school. “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.”

Gundy spent 30 years in Stillwater as a player, assistant coach and head coach Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham will serve as the team’s interim coach. The former TCU, Houston and Kansas offensive coordinator played offensive line for the Cowboys from 1983-87.

Gundy transformed Oklahoma State into a consistent contender, guiding the Cowboys to eight double-digit win seasons, a Big 12 title in 2011 and 18 bowl appearances, including five New Year’s Six bowls. However, the program’s identity — long tied to strong quarterback play and NFL-bound receivers — has faded in recent seasons. Oklahoma State has not produced a quarterback taken in the NFL Draft since Mason Rudolph in 2018 nor a receiver selected since 2021, a drop-off coinciding with the onset of the NIL era.

The move comes after a rocky offseason when Gundy negotiated a restructured contract to remain at Oklahoma State despite the program enduring its worst season in decades, including a winless record against conference opponents for the first time in 30 years.

Gundy oversaw a sweeping staff overhaul this past offseason, firing offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn — the longest-tenured Oklahoma State assistant at the time — and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo, hiring nine new assistants in an effort to reset the program. The 2025 roster features 65 new players overall, including 41 transfers, something no other college has done.

Gundy went 17090 as OSU’s coach. Pat Jones is second in program history in wins with 62. In fact, if you add up Jones and the next two coaches on the list — Jim Lookabaugh and Cliff Speegle — the three of them combined have fewer wins (156) than Gundy.

OSU had three AP Top 25 finishes in the 20 years before Gundy. In the 20 years with Gundy, they had 10.

The Cowboys had two 10-win seasons in the 20 years before Gundy. In the 20 years with Gundy they had eight.

OSU’s conference record under Gundy was 102-72. In the 20 years before Gundy? 57-89.

Gundy took over in 2005, but from 2010-24 only 11 programs had more wins than Oklahoma State (133): Alabama (182), Ohio State (171), Clemson (167), Georgia (161), Oklahoma (151), Oregon (150), Boise State (149), Notre Dame (146), LSU (143), Michigan (135) and Wisconsin (134).

More wins for OSU than for Texas or Texas A&M. More than Penn State, Florida State, USC or Washington.

What is Mike Gundy’s buyout?

Gundy’s contract ran through 2028 and pays him $6.75 million in 2025 with a $125,000 raise annually. Unlike most coaching contracts that have a percentage buyout, Gundy’s deal had a flat rate buyout structure. If he’s fired in the first three years of the deal, Oklahoma State will pay him $15 million. If he’s fired in the fourth year of the deal, his buyout is $10 million.

The contract also included language about Gundy participating in the program’s succession plan for identifying the next Oklahoma State coach, calling for Gundy to collaborate with Oklahoma State “in identifying, evaluating and developing a successor for Employee’s position, as well as facilitating a smooth transition to such successor.”

The idea of the new contract was to create a smooth off-ramp for Gundy to depart the Oklahoma State program and the Cowboys to have a coach in waiting ready to take over. However, after another slow start it’s not clear if that plan will be accelerated and if Gundy will be given time to be part of that succession process.

What is clear is the fact that interim coach Doug Meacham fired defensive coordinator Todd Grantham after the Cowboys 45-27 loss to Baylor in the Cowboys first Big 12 game of the season.

Mike Gundy’s accomplishments as Oklahoma State coach ACCOLADE – DETAILS Overall record

170–90 in 21 seasons (2005–2025) 10-win seasons 8 times National Coach of the Year awards 2011 Paul “Bear” Bryant Award | 2011 Eddie Robinson Award Big 12 Coach of the Year Three times (2010, 2021, 2023) Conference championship

2011 Big 12 Champion Top-10 ranking 11 times (from 2008 to 2022)