Oklahoma State has officially moved on from longtime head coach Mike Gundy after 21 seasons, according to reports from On3’s Chris Low and Pete Nakos. The decision comes on the heels of back-to-back disappointing campaigns, with the Cowboys failing to secure a single Big 12 win in 2024 and stumbling again at the start of 2025.
Gundy leaves as the winningest coach in program history, a title he earned over two decades leading his alma mater. Despite his deep ties to Stillwater and his track record of success, the Cowboys’ inability to remain competitive in conference play over the last two seasons ultimately sealed his fate.
The 2024 season proved particularly damaging, with Oklahoma State managing just three total victories all outside Big 12 competition. The lack of conference success was a stark contrast to Gundy’s earlier years, when the program regularly competed near the top of the league standings.
This fall brought little relief, as Oklahoma State endured another tough start, highlighted by a lopsided Week 2 loss to Oregon. The defeat underscored the widening gap between the Cowboys and top-tier programs, leading administrators to conclude that a change was necessary.
With Gundy out, Oklahoma State will now be on the hook for a $15 million buyout. The move marks the end of an era in Stillwater and opens a new chapter for a program seeking to reestablish itself in the evolving Big 12 landscape.
Mike Gundy’s connection to Oklahoma State runs deep, beginning with his playing days as the Cowboys’ quarterback from 1986 to 1989. Soon after, he transitioned into coaching, starting as the wide receivers coach in 1990 before shifting to quarterbacks from 1991 to 1993. In 1994, he earned a promotion to offensive coordinator, though he returned to coaching quarterbacks the following year.
After a brief period away, including assistant coaching stints at Baylor and Maryland, Gundy made his way back to Stillwater in 2001. He rejoined the program as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator under then-head coach Les Miles. When Miles departed in 2005, Gundy was elevated to head coach, beginning a 21-year run that would ultimately make him the winningest coach in school history.
Mike Gundy’s tenure at Oklahoma State was defined by remarkable consistency until the past two seasons. After a 4-7 debut season in 2005, the Cowboys rattled off a stretch in which they won at least seven games every year through 2023. That run included eight double-digit win seasons, the 2011 Big 12 championship, and four total appearances in the league title game. With 170 victories, Gundy became the program’s winningest coach by a wide margin, surpassing Pat Jones by more than 100 wins.
But after reaching the Big 12 Championship in 2023 a loss to Texas things unraveled quickly. The Cowboys stumbled to a 3-9 record in 2024, failing to win a single conference game. Hopes for a turnaround in 2025 dimmed early. Although Oklahoma State opened the season with a win over UT Martin, that game saw starting quarterback Hauss Hejny go down with an injury. A lopsided defeat the following week only added to the growing concerns, and pressure surrounding Gundy’s future intensified until the program ultimately decided to part ways.
Oklahoma State’s spiral in 2025 worsened with a Week 2 trip to Oregon. The Ducks dismantled the Cowboys 69-3 in a game fueled by off-field remarks. Mike Gundy had previously commented on Oregon’s advantages in NIL and facilities, and quarterback Dante Moore admitted those words added fuel to the fire.
After that blowout, Oklahoma State entered a bye week hoping to regroup. Instead, the struggles lingered. Returning to action in Week 4 against Tulsa, the Cowboys’ offense faltered again. The Golden Hurricane capitalized with a big performance of their own, walking out of Boone Pickens Stadium with a statement win that deepened the frustration in Stillwater.
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