Report: Mike Gundy in a standoff with Oklahoma State over future of coaching contract

Oklahoma State and head football coach Mike Gundy are at an impasse over his contract going forward, ESPN’s Pete Thamel has reported. Gundy grew embattled this year as the Cowboys went 3-9.

In response, the administration reportedly wants to restructure his contract and cut his salary, Gundy has apparently told people, but they haven’t brought forth finalized details. Gundy’s current contract is a rolling five-year deal. His base salary this year was $7.75 million.

If Gundy doesn’t agree to a restructured deal, the Cowboys could fire him for cause, Thamel reported. He is owed more than $25 million if fired without cause.

On3’s Pete Nakos reported shortly after that Oklahoma State is planning to cut Gundy’s base salary and rededicate those funds to going all-in on NIL, should he agree. If Gundy doesn’t, they will terminate his contract, Nakos added.

The Cowboys went 3-9 in 2024 and didn’t win a single conference game after being picked as a potential league winner. It’s only the second time Gundy has failed to get his team bowl-eligible, and the first time since his first season going 4-7 in 2005.

Moves had already been made atop the football program recently, too.

Oklahoma State fired both offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo shortly after the regular season ended, according to ESPN’s Max Olson.

Nardo just wrapped up his second year in Stillwater, while Dunn has been at OSU since 2011 and held the title of offensive coordinator since 2020.

It’s not hard to tell based on its record that OSU wasn’t particularly good on either side of the ball this past season. However, the defense was one of the worst in recent memory this season to give up 215 rushing yards per game to rank 129th in the country.

The Cowboys also surrendered 35.6 points per game to rank 126th. Their disappointing finish came just one year after a 10-win season in which they finished runner up in the Big 12 and returned nearly all their starters.

OSU also took a major step back offensively as running back Ollie Gordon rushed for half the amount of yards he had in 2023 when he led the country with 1,732. The Cowboys had quarterback issues all season and benched starter Alan Bowman at multiple points throughout the year.

Despite returning eight starters on offense including Gordon and Bowman, they averaged just 22 points per game across conference play.