NEWS. IT WILL BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE OSU FAMILY TO UNITE BEHIND THE NEXT LEADER OF COWBOY FOOTBALL AFTER DECADES MIKE GUNDY AND OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY HAVE PARTED WAYS. KOCO SPORTS DIRECTOR BRYAN KEATING IS JOINING US HERE IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT THIS. BRIAN, TO TALK ABOUT FORMER OSU HEAD COACH MIKE GUNDY. THAT FEELS VERY STRANGE. IT IS STRANGE TO HEAR THIS STRANGE NAME STILL. THERE’S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2005, SOMEBODY OTHER THAN MIKE GUNDY IS THE HEAD COACH AT OKLAHOMA STATE. IN THAT FOOTBALL PROGRAM. THE HELM FOR ALMOST 21 YEARS IN FRONT OF OKLAHOMA STATE FOOTBALL. BUT HERE’S THE DEAL. THE COWBOYS LOST 11 OF THEIR LAST 12 GAMES. THEY’VE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. AND THAT WAS ENOUGH. AFTER THE LOSS TO TULSA FOR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR CHAD WEIBERG TO PULL THE PLUG. NOW DOESN’T TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT MIKE GUNDY’S DONE AT OKLAHOMA STATE. MIKE GUNDY WON 170 GAMES AT OSU. HE’S THE WINNINGEST COACH IN SCHOOL HISTORY, WON A BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2011. PLAYED FOR IT MULTIPLE TIMES, WON THE FIESTA BOWL, WON MULTIPLE BOWL GAMES, HELPED CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY FOR OKLAHOMA STATE FOOTBALL. PLUS, THE EXPECTATIONS CHANGED, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON HE GOT FIRED. HE WAS SUCCESSFUL, WENT TO BOWL GAMES 18 YEARS IN A ROW. BUT TONIGHT MIKE GUNDY IS OUT AS THE HEAD COACH AT OKLAHOMA STATE. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG, LONG TIME, THERE WILL BE A NEW ERA IN CHARGE OF COWBOY FOOTBALL. BRIAN, THANKS VERY MUCH. MORE FROM YOU HERE. A LITTLE BIT LATER, THIS NEWSCAST, WE WERE ON CAMPUS TODAY WHERE STUDENTS TOLD US THAT MIKE GUNDY LEAVING THE PROGRAM. IT FEELS LIKE THE END OF AN ERA, AND IT IS. FOR SOME, IT FELT LIKE RELIEF. FOR OTHERS, IT WAS HEARTBREAK. FOR MANY PEOPLE, IT WAS BOTH. WE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF STUDENTS TODAY WHO WERE REALLY EMOTIONAL ABOUT HEARING MIKE GUNDY HAD BEEN FIRED BY THE UNIVERSITY. I THINK WE NEED AN OVERALL ORGANIZATION SHIFT. I DON’T THINK GUNDY WAS THE PROBLEM. HE GAVE US 19 STRAIGHT YEARS OF GREATNESS. SO I DON’T THINK WE SHOULD WE SHOULD HAVE REALLY BEEN TOO QUICK TO FIRE HIM OFF OF THAT. ALL THE STUDENTS WE TALKED TO SAID THAT THEY’RE JUST HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR FOOTBALL PROGRAM UP THERE IN STILLWATER. AND THE REACTIONS CONTINUE TO POUR IN. FOLLOWING TODAY’
Oklahoma State fires Mike Gundy after more than 20 seasons as head football coach
A news conference to discuss the firing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena
Updated: 10:17 PM CDT Sep 23, 2025
Oklahoma State University has fired Mike Gundy as the Cowboys’ football coach after more than 20 years in the position, university officials confirmed. Gundy was first hired in 2005 and, including his time as a player, spent more than 30 years at Oklahoma State. A news conference to discuss the firing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena. “Cowboy Football reached an unprecedented level of success and national prominence under Coach Gundy’s leadership,” OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said in a news release. “I believe I speak for OSU fans everywhere when I say that we are grateful for all he did to raise the standard and show us all what is possible for Oklahoma State football.” The firing comes days after the Cowboys lost to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 19-12 at Boone Pickens Stadium on national television. During the game, the student section could be heard chanting, “Fire Gundy!” During a news conference on the announcement, Weiberg said he met with Gundy on Tuesday morning, and it was “a good conversation.” He said the decision was ultimately made because outcomes during this season and last have not met expectations.He also acknowledged Gundy’s contributions to OSU, and he said Tuesday’s decision should not take away from his accomplishments at the school. “We all have high expectations for OSU football because of Mike Gundy,” Weiberg said. >> Video Below: OSU AD says Mike Gundy decision was needed for a program rebootThe athletic director said the team is setting its sights on finding its new head coach, and it is critically important for the OSU family to unite behind the next leader of the football program. “I fully expected to beat the University of Tulsa. I expected the results of this season to be different than they’ve been so far, and, you know, again, that goes back to the expectation level that Coach Gundy has set for this program. We have higher expectations than that,” Weiberg said. “So, when it just appeared that that was not going to be met, I felt like for the good of the program, it was time to, you know, make this decision so that we could start the process of, you know, getting the program where we want it to be.”>> Video Below: OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg says he met with Mike Gundy on Tuesday morning Oklahoma State started the season 1-2, featuring a 69-3 loss to Oregon, and the Cowboys were coming off a 3-9 season in 2024, during which they lost nine straight Big 12 games. Their only win of the 2025 season was in the season opener against UT Martin, during which quarterback Hauss Hejny suffered a broken foot. “Moving forward, it is critical for our fans, alumni and donors to align behind Cowboy Football,” Weiberg said in the news release. “This is a pivotal moment, the stakes have never been higher and we need everyone on board.”During his weekly news conference on Monday, Gundy told reporters that he had no interest in leaving Oklahoma State University amid mounting pressure. “When I was hired here to take this job, ever since that day, I’ve put my heart and soul into this, and I will continue to do that until at some point if I say, ‘I don’t want to do it,’ or if somebody else says, ‘We don’t want you to do it,'” Gundy said Monday. Watch Crashing the Boards Below: Is the Mike Gundy era at Oklahoma State over? Gundy, who was in his 21st season as head coach, is the Oklahoma State football program’s all-time winningest coach, amassing a 170-90 record. The Cowboys won the outright Big 12 title in 2011, a share of the Big 12 South title in 2010 and made an appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game in 2021 and 2023. Gundy was the Cowboys’ quarterback from 1986 to 1989. He finished his playing career as the Big Eight Conference career passing leader. “College football has changed drastically in the last few years, and the investment needed to compete at the highest level has never been more important,” Weiberg said in the news release. “As we search for the next head coach of Cowboy Football, we are looking for someone who can lead our program in this new era. It is also important that we continue to support our student-athletes, our staff and our university through the season, and I hope that our fans continue to show that support in Boone Pickens Stadium this fall.”Before the start of the 2025 season, the Oklahoma State University Board of Regents restructured Gundy’s contract. His pay was cut by $1 million, and his buyout was lowered to $15 million. Weiberg said OSU plans to honor that buyout. >> Video Below: A timeline of Mike Gundy’s tenure at OSU and what led to his departureOklahoma State enters Big 12 play this weekend, squaring off against the Baylor Bears at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium. “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 championship-level football and competing for national success,” OSU President Jim Hess said in the news release. “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.”Top Headlines 4 people taken to hospital after fire sparks at northwest Oklahoma City apartment complex TIMELINE: More storms with tornado risk later Tuesday in Oklahoma Turning Point USA bringing tour honoring Charlie Kirk’s mission to University of Oklahoma Ryan Walters says every Oklahoma high school will have a Turning Point USA Club America chapter Get the Facts: Autism rates increased to 1 in 31, this is where the CDC got its numbers
STILLWATER, Okla. —
Oklahoma State University has fired Mike Gundy as the Cowboys’ football coach after more than 20 years in the position, university officials confirmed.
Gundy was first hired in 2005 and, including his time as a player, spent more than 30 years at Oklahoma State. A news conference to discuss the firing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
“Cowboy Football reached an unprecedented level of success and national prominence under Coach Gundy’s leadership,” OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said in a news release. “I believe I speak for OSU fans everywhere when I say that we are grateful for all he did to raise the standard and show us all what is possible for Oklahoma State football.”
The firing comes days after the Cowboys lost to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 19-12 at Boone Pickens Stadium on national television. During the game, the student section could be heard chanting, “Fire Gundy!”
During a news conference on the announcement, Weiberg said he met with Gundy on Tuesday morning, and it was “a good conversation.” He said the decision was ultimately made because outcomes during this season and last have not met expectations.
He also acknowledged Gundy’s contributions to OSU, and he said Tuesday’s decision should not take away from his accomplishments at the school.
“We all have high expectations for OSU football because of Mike Gundy,” Weiberg said.
>> Video Below: OSU AD says Mike Gundy decision was needed for a program reboot
The athletic director said the team is setting its sights on finding its new head coach, and it is critically important for the OSU family to unite behind the next leader of the football program.
“I fully expected to beat the University of Tulsa. I expected the results of this season to be different than they’ve been so far, and, you know, again, that goes back to the expectation level that Coach Gundy has set for this program. We have higher expectations than that,” Weiberg said. “So, when it just appeared that that was not going to be met, I felt like for the good of the program, it was time to, you know, make this decision so that we could start the process of, you know, getting the program where we want it to be.”
>> Video Below: OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg says he met with Mike Gundy on Tuesday morning
Oklahoma State started the season 1-2, featuring a 69-3 loss to Oregon, and the Cowboys were coming off a 3-9 season in 2024, during which they lost nine straight Big 12 games. Their only win of the 2025 season was in the season opener against UT Martin, during which quarterback Hauss Hejny suffered a broken foot.
“Moving forward, it is critical for our fans, alumni and donors to align behind Cowboy Football,” Weiberg said in the news release. “This is a pivotal moment, the stakes have never been higher and we need everyone on board.”
During his weekly news conference on Monday, Gundy told reporters that he had no interest in leaving Oklahoma State University amid mounting pressure.
“When I was hired here to take this job, ever since that day, I’ve put my heart and soul into this, and I will continue to do that until at some point if I say, ‘I don’t want to do it,’ or if somebody else says, ‘We don’t want you to do it,'” Gundy said Monday.
Watch Crashing the Boards Below: Is the Mike Gundy era at Oklahoma State over?
Gundy, who was in his 21st season as head coach, is the Oklahoma State football program’s all-time winningest coach, amassing a 170-90 record. The Cowboys won the outright Big 12 title in 2011, a share of the Big 12 South title in 2010 and made an appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game in 2021 and 2023.
Gundy was the Cowboys’ quarterback from 1986 to 1989. He finished his playing career as the Big Eight Conference career passing leader.
“College football has changed drastically in the last few years, and the investment needed to compete at the highest level has never been more important,” Weiberg said in the news release. “As we search for the next head coach of Cowboy Football, we are looking for someone who can lead our program in this new era. It is also important that we continue to support our student-athletes, our staff and our university through the season, and I hope that our fans continue to show that support in Boone Pickens Stadium this fall.”
Before the start of the 2025 season, the Oklahoma State University Board of Regents restructured Gundy’s contract. His pay was cut by $1 million, and his buyout was lowered to $15 million.
Weiberg said OSU plans to honor that buyout.
>> Video Below: A timeline of Mike Gundy’s tenure at OSU and what led to his departure
Oklahoma State enters Big 12 play this weekend, squaring off against the Baylor Bears at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.
“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 championship-level football and competing for national success,” OSU President Jim Hess said in the news release. “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.”
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