Shocking Split: Oklahoma State Parts Ways with Veteran Coach Mike Gundy After Two Decades

In a move that has sent ripples through the college football world, Oklahoma State University has dismissed head coach Mike Gundy after 20 full seasons at the helm, marking the end of an era for the Cowboys program. The decision, announced on Tuesday and taking effect immediately, comes just days after a disheartening 19 to 12 defeat to in state rival Tulsa, leaving the team with a shaky 1 to 2 record to open the 2025 campaign. At 58 years old, Gundy was one of the longest serving coaches in the FBS, and his abrupt exit underscores the intense pressures facing programs in today’s evolving landscape of college athletics.

The timing could not have been more dramatic. Less than 24 hours before the announcement, Gundy had gone on record affirming his unwavering commitment to the Cowboys, declaring a “100 percent” desire to continue coaching in Stillwater well into the future. Yet behind the scenes, university leadership had evidently reached a different conclusion. Athletic director Chad Weiberg led the statement, praising Gundy’s transformative impact while framing the change as essential for the program’s long term health. “Under Coach Gundy’s leadership, Oklahoma State football achieved unprecedented success and national prominence,” Weiberg said. He urged fans, alumni, and boosters to rally around the team’s next chapter, emphasizing the need for fresh investments to keep pace with the rapid shifts in college football from NIL deals and the transfer portal to conference realignments.

University president Kayse Shrum echoed this sentiment, stressing that the move prioritizes the student athletes and the pursuit of championships. “This decision is about what is best for our football program, our student athletes, and Oklahoma State University,” she noted. “We remain committed to competing at the highest level and achieving national success.” Gundy’s departure is not without financial strings attached; he is slated to receive a 15 million dollar buyout, a hefty sum reflective of his stature and the security of his contract, which was set to pay him 6.75 million in 2025 alone.

Stepping in as interim head coach is offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, a familiar face within the program who now faces the daunting task of steadying the ship. Oklahoma State kicks off Big 12 play this Saturday against Baylor, a matchup that suddenly carries even more weight amid the uncertainty. The Cowboys’ offense, once a Gundy hallmark, has sputtered badly this year, ranking 81st nationally in total yards and 74th in points per game, averaging just 14 points through three outings, the lowest mark since 1991. A 69 to 3 thrashing at Oregon in Week 1 set a grim tone, followed by the home loss against Tulsa, where OSU managed just 403 total yards to their opponents 424. The team had reloaded aggressively in the offseason, bringing in over 60 new faces via transfers and recruits, but the results have been anything but seamless.

Gundy’s legacy at Oklahoma State is undeniably storied, blending triumphs with the grit of a program builder. A former starting quarterback for the Cowboys from 1986 to 1989, he returned as head coach in 2005 and quickly elevated a middling squad into a consistent contender. Over his tenure, he compiled a 170 to 90 record, good for a .654 winning percentage, with just two losing seasons in two decades. Highlights include eight double digit win campaigns, a Big 12 championship in 2011, and a number three finish in the final AP poll that year, capped by a dominant Fiesta Bowl victory over Stanford. His teams became synonymous with high octane attacks and bowl berths, peaking with a Big 12 title game appearance as recently as 2023.

But the shine has dulled in recent years. Since the start of the 2024 season, Oklahoma State has dropped 11 of 12 games overall, including an alarming 11 game skid against FBS foes, the longest active streak among Power Four schools. That downward spiral, coupled with broader frustrations over adapting to modern recruiting battles and roster turnover, likely sealed his fate. Gundy was never one to shy from the spotlight either. His fiery 2007 press conference rant, “I’m a man! I’m 40!” defending a young quarterback became instant legend, even inspiring a recent tongue in cheek ad for Consumer Cellular. Yet his outspokenness drew heat too, including a 2020 apology for using the term “Chinese virus” amid the pandemic, and a player led backlash after he sported a One America News Network T shirt, prompting a sit down video with star running back Chuba Hubbard to mend fences.

The fallout is already unfolding. Gundy’s firing activates a 30 day transfer portal window starting Wednesday, giving players a narrow opportunity to seek greener pastures without penalty. Early signs of instability emerged when four star running back commit Kaydin Jones, a Jenks, Oklahoma native and the first pledge for the 2026 class, withdrew his verbal commitment mere hours after the news broke. As the Cowboys navigate this limbo under Meacham, the search for a permanent replacement looms large. Names have not surfaced yet, but expect a high profile hunt targeting coaches who can harness the portal, NIL collectives, and the Big 12’s competitive depth to restore OSU’s swagger.

For Gundy, this chapter closes on a bittersweet note. He leaves as the architect of modern Cowboy football, having mentored countless players and instilled a winning culture in a program once mired in mediocrity. Fans in Stillwater will forever debate if the split was premature or overdue, but one thing is clear: the decision signals Oklahoma State’s resolve to evolve or risk fading in the rearview. As the team turns its gaze to Baylor, the question is not just who will lead them next, it is whether they can recapture the magic that Gundy once conjured so effortlessly. College football waits with bated breath.