Oklahoma State fired head coach Mike Gundy on Tuesday after a 1-2 start to his 21st season.
The university made the announcement one day after Gundy said he had zero interest in this being his final year in Stillwater.
The Cowboys fell to Tulsa last Friday and have dropped 11 of the past 12 games dating back to the 2024 campaign.
“I’m under contract, here, for I think 3 1/2 years,” Gundy said Monday. “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, who is owed $15 million, is the winningest coach in Oklahoma State history.
He coached the Cowboys to 18 straight winning seasons and bowl appearances before the streak was broken last year.
Gundy posted eight 10-win seasons at Oklahoma State, which finished ranked in the Top 25 on 10 occasions during his tenure. He was a three-time Coach of the Year in the Big 12.
“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,” university president Jim Hess said. “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.”
Gundy was 170-90 all-time, including 12-6 in bowls at his alma mater, where he was OSU’s starting quarterback and assistant head coach before being hired. With Gundy at quarterback from 1986-89, the Cowboys had two 10-win seasons.
“Cowboy Football reached an unprecedented level of success and national prominence under Coach Gundy’s leadership,” Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg said. “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.”
Gundy, 58, is famous in part for his press conference tirade 18 years ago in which he said, “I’m a man, I’m 40.”
Oklahoma State will host Baylor (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) in its conference opener on Saturday.
