Mike Gundy, the second-longest-tenured FBS head coach, has been fired by Oklahoma State, effective immediately, it was announced Tuesday.
Gundy, 58, was in his 21st season leading the Cowboys this fall. His exit comes four days after Oklahoma State fell to 1-2 in a 19-12 loss to Tulsa last Friday and less than 24 hours after Gundy publicly stated on Monday his “100 percent” intention to remain with the program beyond the 2025 season.
“I’m under contract, here, for I think 3½ 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 will be owed $15 million by the university.
“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 in a statement.
“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. We are grateful for his service and wish him and his family the very best.”
Gundy compiled a record of 170-90 from 2005 to 2025, overseeing a rapid transformation of the Oklahoma State football program across two-plus decades in charge. He led the Cowboys to eight 10-win seasons, including a 2011 Big 12 title campaign that saw Oklahoma State finish No. 3 in the AP Top 25 and a Fiesta Bowl win over Stanford.
Gundy and the Cowboys reached the Big 12 championship game as recently as 2023. But his departure follows in the wake of a downward spiral over recent seasons.
The Cowboys have dropped 11 of their past 12 games dating to the start of the 2024 season, with 11 consecutive defeats against FBS opponents — the longest such streak among Power 4 programs nationally.
“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,” athletic director Chad Weiberg said in a statement. “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.
“… Moving forward, it is critical for our fans, alumni and donors to align behind Cowboy Football. This is a pivotal moment, the stakes have never been higher and we need everyone on board.”
Once a beacon for high-flying, offensive football, Gundy, who was a star quarterback for Oklahoma State in the late 1980s, leaves with the Cowboys ranked 81st in total offense and 74th in scoring this season.
Gundy agreed to a restructured contract to remain the program’s coach late last year following a 3-9 finish to the 2024 season.
Oklahoma State added more than 60 new players to its roster before the 2025 season. After a Week 1 win over UT-Martin, the Cowboys suffered a 69-3 drubbing on the road at Oregon before falling to in-state Group of 5 rivals Tulsa in Week 4.
The Cowboys gave up 11 plays of 15-plus yards, made just three trips to the red zone and were outgained 424-403 in the loss to Tulsa — the program’s first home loss to the Golden Hurricane since 1951.
Oklahoma State opens Big 12 play against Baylor on Saturday.
Monday marked the 17th anniversary of Gundy’s infamous “I’m a man, I’m 40” rant.
