Mike Gundy Fired as Oklahoma State HC amid 1-2 Start, Was Hired in 2005

Mike Gundy has been dismissed by Oklahoma State just three games into his 21st season with the program amid a 1-2 start.

"Cowboy Football reached an unprecedented level of success and national prominence under Coach Gundy's leadership," OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said in a statement. "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.

"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 added. "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."

He will depart from the program having led Oklahoma State to a 170-90 record, as well as a 12-6 mark in 18 bowl games. Brett McMurphy of On3 reported offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Doug Meacham will serve as the interim in Gundy's absence.

According to The Athletic's Justin Williams, Oklahoma State owes Gundy $15 million because he was fired within the first three years of his recently restructured contract.

Gundy also played for Oklahoma State at quarterback from 1986 to 1989.

He started working with the Cowboys as an assistant the following year, serving as a wide receivers coach, quarterback coach and offensive coordinator between 1990 and 1995.

After stints with Baylor and Maryland, Gundy returned to Oklahoma State as assistant head coach offensive coordinator in 2001 before taking over as head coach in 2005.

Oklahoma State had posted just four winning seasons in 16 years prior to the program's decision to promote Gundy in 2005.

Gundy went on to lead the Cowboys to 18 winning seasons between 2006 and 2023, capping off the run and the 2023 season with a Big 12 championship game appearance.

But OSU fell well short of the mark in 2024, when the Cowboys ended the season with nine straight losses to finish 3-9 in the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff bracket.

Gundy reportedly agreed to restructure his contract, which ran through the 2028 season, ahead of the 2025 campaign. The changes included decreasing his buyout to $15 million and allowing it to be offset by any future contracts he signs with another team, per Williams.

Oklahoma State went on to start out the 2025 season with a win over non-major Tennessee-Martin, but suffered a historic 69-3 blowout to No. 6 Oregon and lost to Tulsa to drop back below .500.

Gundy said before the Week 2 loss to Oregon that Oklahoma State has lagged behind some of college football's top programs in NIL spending.

The Cowboys could be hoping a head coaching chance, combined with the introduction of revenue sharing to college sports, could eventually help revitalize the program.

Gundy spent a total of more than 34 years with Oklahoma State as a player or a member of the coaching staff. His dismissal leaves Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Utah's Kyle Whittingham as the only college football coaches to have been with their program for more than 20 years.

Oklahoma State returns to action Saturday with a home game against Baylor.