FRISCO, Texas — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy does not really feel stress. That is a younger man’s recreation.
“I felt stress in all probability like Years 2, 3 or 4 as a result of I used to be a younger coach with no second contract,” Gundy informed CBS Sports activities. “I am unable to bear in mind who mentioned it, however he had a $2 wager on a putt and solely had a greenback in his pocket. That is loads of stress.”
Gundy is now heading into Yr 21, a tenure that trails solely Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz within the FBS. The grizzled ball coach is not 40 — he is nearing 60. And, for the primary time, his seat is severely warming. In accordance with CBS Sports activities’ annual Scorching Seat Rankings launched this week, Gundy is on the second-hottest seat in Energy 4 soccer, satirically solely behind Bedlam rival Brent Venables.
2025 Faculty Soccer Scorching Seat Rankings: Evaluating the job safety of all 136 FBS coaches
CBS Sports activities Employees
Oklahoma State’s run of 18 consecutive successful seasons snapped in 2024 as this system completed lifeless final within the Huge 12. The Cowboys went 3-9 and 0-9 in convention play. Previous to the disastrous marketing campaign, Gundy’s solely shedding season in Stillwater occurred in Yr 1. The Cowboys have been picked No. 3 within the preseason ballot; it is partially their fault the convention did away with it.
“After we would lose a recreation by some extent or two to a crew ranked eighth within the nation and everyone’s mad, I informed the employees, you all created this monster,” Gundy mentioned. “They assume you are alleged to win each recreation. They assume you are alleged to have a superb yr. They assume you are alleged to be in a bowl recreation and be ranked.
“It is now grow to be human nature. That is what we wished and y’all created it. Now we have to feed it.”
After the season, Oklahoma State pushed Gundy to signal a renegotiated contract. The brand new deal concerned a $1 million wage discount and smaller buyout, together with the elimination of the rollover clause that made it a perpetual contract. The lessened $1 million will probably be earmarked for income sharing as a substitute.
Making issues worse, this system shares virtually zero DNA from its days of Huge 12 rivalry. Virtually each assistant coach is model new. Coordinators Sonny Cumbie and Todd Grantham each wished to usher in their very own assistants, so particular groups coach Sean Snyder is the one returner. Gundy mentioned he tried to strategy coordinators that will retain employees, however he wasn’t . Program mainstays like receivers coach Kasey Dunn and quarterbacks coach Tim Rattay are out the door.
Regardless of ending winless in Huge 12 play, the Cowboys rank No. 124 in returning offensive manufacturing. Operating again Ollie Gordon, receiver Brennan Presley and 5 starters on the offensive line are gone. Solely 4 complete starters are again on the roster, and at the very least eight place battles are nonetheless open. Prime receiver De’Zhaun Stribling additionally opted to switch.
“The core values in what we’re hanging our hat on hasn’t modified,” Gundy mentioned. “The attention-grabbing facet of it’ll be, how will that look in August with 65 new gamers? I am not gonna conceal that, I haven’t got any concept proper now.”
Moreover, Oklahoma State introduced in 41 transfers, 18 highschool prospects and 4 JUCO gamers, fully reimagining their roster. Gundy says 35 gamers did not arrive on campus till June 1. He is nonetheless studying the faces of lots of the new additions to this system.
Mike Gundy’s profession report at Oklahoma State 🏈
| Season | General | Huge 12 Convention |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4–7 | 1–7 |
| 2006 | 7–6 | 3–5 |
| 2007 | 7–6 | 4–4 |
| 2008 | 9–4 | 5–3 |
| 2009 | 9–4 | 6–2 |
| 2010 | 11–2 | 6–2 |
| 2011 | 12–1 | 8–1 |
| 2012 | 8–5 | 5–4 |
| 2013 | 10–3 | 7–2 |
| 2014 | 7–6 | 4–5 |
| 2015 | 10–3 | 7–2 |
| 2016 | 10–3 | 7–2 |
| 2017 | 10–3 | 6–3 |
| 2018 | 7–6 | 3–6 |
| 2019 | 8–5 | 5–4 |
| 2020 | 8–3 | 6–3 |
| 2021 | 12–2 | 8–1 |
| 2022 | 7–6 | 4–5 |
| 2023 | 10–4 | 7–2 |
| 2024 | 3–9 | 0–9 |
However, no matter what occurs, Gundy is okay. He has 169 profession wins. No. 2 on the OSU listing is Pat Jones, his faculty coach, who solely has 62. Gundy has eight of the 11 10-win seasons in program historical past. He was the beginning quarterback on two others. Mike Gundy has nothing to show.
“It does not have an effect on me simply from a standpoint that I am up to now alongside in my profession, I get it,” Gundy mentioned. “If somebody says, ‘hey, we have to change the coach at Oklahoma State,’ then I am going coach elsewhere.”
