Welcome to FTW Explains: A guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. You may have heard about Mike Gundy clashing with his employer, Oklahoma State, and wondering what is going on. That’s OK because we’re here to help.
Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy was in a standoff with the school over his salary and contract that seemingly resolved itself very quickly throughout the last couple days, according to multiple reports Friday and Saturday.
Oklahoma State also reportedly wasn’t ruling out firing Gundy if the coach was unwilling to compromise with the school.
The Cowboys have plenty of reasons to be less than pleased with Gundy, especially after they finished the 2024 season with an abysmal 3-9 record and zero (0) Big 12 victories. Ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, Oklahoma State won its first three games against South Dakota State, Arkansas and Tulsa before going on to lose the nine and closing with a 52-0 loss to Colorado.
So, not a great season for Gundy and co., and it sure seems like Oklahoma State leaders aren’t thrilled. So let’s break down what reportedly happened in the recent stalemate between the football coach and the school.
Oct 5, 2024; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys coach Mike Gundy enters the field for a game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
The Oklahoman reported that the Oklahoma A&M Colleges Board of Regents met for more than two hours on Friday morning, and “the focus of the meeting was believed to be focused on Gundy and his contract status in the aftermath of a 3-9 season the struggles of which were exacerbated by Gundy’s comments about unhappy fans.” But the meeting ended without any action being taken.
“We have a plan,” Board chair Jimmy Harrel told the media as he left the meeting room, via The Oklahoman. “As soon as we have it tied down, we’ll inform you of it.”
Oklahoma State asked Gundy to accept a restructured contract and met with officials to talk about his future with the Cowboys, according to a report Friday from ESPN’s Pete Thamel citing anonymous sources. He was under contract through the 2028 season, and the proposed restructured agreement included a significant pay cut and decrease in his buyout.
Not only did Oklahoma State reportedly want to change the terms, but it also might have been a borderline ultimatum.
They have discussed firing him for cause if he doesn’t agree to the new contract. He's owed nearly $25 million on his current contract.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 6, 2024
If Gundy didn’t agree to the restructured contract, there were talks of firing him for cause, though it’s not clear what may warrant being fired for cause, Thamel reported.
By Saturday, this whole mess was reportedly resolved.
Gundy and Oklahoma State reached an agreement on a restructured contract, meaning he’ll continue coaching the Cowboys, ESPN’s Chris Low reported Saturday citing sources.
Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State have reached an agreement on a restructured contract that will keep him as @CowboyFB’s coach. The resolution comes after days of discussions between the sides. Gundy, the winningest coach in school history, will enter his 21st season.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 7, 2024
As part of the restructuring of Gundy’s contract, his $7.75 million annual salary will be reduced to be redistributed as part of revenue sharing with players, and his buyout will be reduced, sources told ESPN. Gundy would have been owed $25.3 million had he been fired without cause.
Other than Harrel’s comments following the Oklahoma A&M Colleges Board of Regents meeting Friday, Oklahoma State hasn’t really commented on the situation.
However, the Cowboys had already fired their coordinators. As The Oklahoman reported:
OSU dismissed offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo on Wednesday, but Friday’s special meeting was posted at approximately the same time “for the purpose of considering evaluation/assessment and other information relevant to the employment of Oklahoma State University football staff.”
For the 2024 season, Gundy had the 17th-largest college football coaching salary at $7,750,000, according to USA TODAY Sports’ database.
Prior to him and the Cowboys agreeing to new contract terms going forward, his buyout in 2024 was $25,359,375, which is the 27th-largest.
Gundy isn’t one known to hold back, and he criticized fans during a press conference in November, saying “most people are weak” and said his critics are people who “can’t pay their own bills.”
He said, via Yahoo Sports:
“…in most cases, the people who are negative and voicing their opinion are the same ones that can’t pay their own bills. They’re not taking care of themselves. They’re not taking care of their own family. They’re not taking care of their own job but they have an obligation to speak out and complain about others because it makes them feel better. But then in the end when they go to bed at night, they’re the same failure that they were before they said anything negative about anybody else.”
Gundy ultimately apologized for his comments, but this was hardly his first controversy.
— Mike Gundy (@CoachGundy) November 6, 2024
This summer at Big 12 media day, Gundy was criticized for appearing to make light of drinking and driving, saying: “I’ve probably done that a thousand times in my life.” He later clarified the point he was attempting to express.
My intended point today at Big 12 media days was that we are all guilty of making bad decisions. It was not a reference to something specific.
— Mike Gundy (@CoachGundy) July 9, 2024
In another incident in 2020, Gundy agreed to take a $1 million pay cut and a reduced buyout after a public clash with players — who were threatening to boycott playing — over the coach wearing a far-right TV network, One America News T-shirt. In 2021, the school announced his salary and “perpetual five-year contract” were restored, ESPN reported.
Gundy has also previously been accused by former players of using the N-word.
Gundy just finished coaching his 20th season with Oklahoma State, his alma mater, and after agreeing to a restructured contract, he’ll return for No. 21. As the Cowboys’ winningest coach, Gundy has a 169-88 record in 20 seasons, which included a 2011 Big 12 championship.
However, with the 3-9 finish this season, Gundy’s streak of leading the team to 18 straight bowl games was snapped.
