Head Coach Mike Gundy

Coaching Capsule

Gundy became Oklahoma State's head coach on Jan. 3, 2005. He served as OSU's offensive coordinator and associate head coach the previous four seasons. He served on Oklahoma State staffs under Pat Jones, Bob Simmons and Les Miles. He was also on staff at Baylor and Maryland before returning to his alma mater.

Playing Experience
Gundy was a four-year starter and letterman at Oklahoma State from 1986 through 1989. He remains OSU's all-time leading passer with 7,997 yards and he led the Cowboys to back-to-back 10-win seasons in 1987 and 1988. His 429-yard passing performance against Kansas in 1989 is still the second-best passing game at Oklahoma State and he owns six of Oklahoma State's top 30 single-game passing performances. He also still holds Oklahoma State career records for passing yards (7,997), completion percentage (58.3 percent) and interception avoidance (36 in 1,035 pass attempts).

Family
Gundy is the son of Ray and Judy Gundy. His father attended OSU on a basketball grant. He and his wife, Kristen, have three sons, Gavin, Gunnar and Gage. Kristen is also an OSU graduate. His brother, Cale, is on the coaching staff at Oklahoma.

2005-present	Oklahoma State
	Head Coach
2001-04	Oklahoma State
	Assistant Head Coach/
	Offensive Coordinator
1997-2000	Maryland
	Quarterbacks Coach/
	Passing Game Coordinator
	Receivers Coach
1996.	Baylor
	Quarterbacks Coach/
	Passing Game Coordinator
1990-95	Oklahoma State
	Quarterbacks Coach
	Offensive Coordinator (1994)
	Quarterbacks (1991-93)
	Receivers (1990)

Head Coaches Currently At Their Alma Mater: Football Bowl Subdivision

Troy Calhoun	Air Force
Steve Fairchild	Colorado State
Bobby Lamb	Furman
Mark Snyder	Marshall
Ralph Friedgen	.Maryland
Randy Shannon	Miami (Fla.)
Chris Ault	Nevada
Pat Fitzgerald	Northwestern
Mike Gundy	Oklahoma State
Dave Wannstedt	Pittsburgh
Rick Neuheisel	UCLA
Al Groh	Virginia
Frank Beamer	Virginia Tech
Paul Wulff	Washington State

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is entering just his fifth season as the head coach at his alma mater.

But 2005 seems like a long time ago.

The Cowboy football program is hardly recognizable as the same one that Gundy inherited from Les Miles. Over the past four years, OSU has undergone a complete makeover in every way possible. New facilities are in place, new attitudes are in place, new-found national respect is in place, and from both the head coach and his alma mater, a new commitment is in place.

Gundy and Oklahoma State agreed on a new seven-year contract on Dec. 5, 2008. The new contract will keep the former Cowboy quarterback in charge of OSU's football fortunes through at least 2015. And it is documentation of the progress that Oklahoma State has made since the 1990 OSU grad became the school's head coach.

Gundy is 27-23 during his head coaching career, but that record hardly tells the story of the rebirth of Cowboy football. Under his guidance OSU's Big 12 record has improved every season: from 1-7 in 2005 to 3-5 in 2006, 4-4 in 2007 and 5-3 in 2008. During that same time period the overall win total has climbed from four to nine.

The 2008 season saw the Cowboys ascend into the top 10 for the first time in 20 years. It saw OSU climb to sixth in the BCS rankings. It saw OSU pick up a road win against a member of the Associated Press top five and it showed that OSU football has the staying power to crack helmets with the best in college football.

Mike Gundy entered his tenure as head coach with a clear-cut blueprint in mind.

He hired a staff with a strong pedigree in recruiting. He had specific plans for his offense and it was a far cry from the power football of past Cowboy teams. And he knew that discipline and accountability were going to be re-emphasized in all faces of the program.

Then came year one.

Oklahoma State was 4-7 with one conference win and a sixth-place finish in the Big 12 South.

Gundy, however, never wavered. And now as he enters his fifth season at Oklahoma State, his vision for his alma mater is coming into focus for all to see.

In year two, OSU improved to 7-6, won the Independence Bowl, and moved up to fifth in the conference standings. And in 2007, despite facing one of America's toughest schedules, the Cowboys won their second straight bowl game (Insight) and the climb up the Big 12 ladder continued with OSU finishing third in the division. Oklahoma State entered the final week of the regular season playing for a share of the Big 12 South championship.

The bowl titles marked the first time since 1987 and 1988 (Gundy's playing days) that the Cowboys won postseason games in consecutive seasons. And it still seemed as if Oklahoma State football is just getting started.

The 2008 season clarified the direction of the program for all to see. The most recent version of the Cowboys became one of the most decorated in school history. Two sophomores, receiver Dez Bryant and running back Kendall Hunter, became first-team All-Americans. Quarterback Zac Robinson was a finalist for the Manning Award and a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew was a finalist for the Mackey Award and punter Matt Fodge was the winner of the Ray Guy Award.

As a team, the Cowboys went 9-4 for just the eighth nine-win season in school history. OSU appeared in a bowl game in three straight seasons for just the third time ever. The 2008 Cowboys, with Gundy calling the plays, was the second highest scoring team in school history at more than 41 points per game.

It was a season that saw OSU enter the polls on September 28 and camp out in the rankings for the rest of the year. Oklahoma State climbed as high as No. 7 in the AP balloting. Along the way came a win at No. 3 Missouri and a four-point near miss at No. 1 Texas.

In January of 2005, Mike Gundy moved into the head coach's office from his role as OSU's offensive coordinator under Les Miles, and he has maintained a breakneck pace in his first four seasons as the Cowboy boss.

His early days were often challenging and the news not always good, but the energetic former Cowboy continued to lay the groundwork for a complete OSU makeover.

In very short order, Gundy put together an all-star coaching staff that has proven it can not only coach the game on the field, but can recruit with the best. The three highest ranked recruiting classes in OSU history have come under Gundy. He has overhauled the Cowboy offense into one of the nation's most impressive and balanced. And he continues to push his student-athletes in their endeavors away from football.

Gundy faced early and difficult decisions in his head coaching career. Those challenges included the dismissal of several players, some who figured to be headliners going into the 2005 campaign. He also had to deal with the shocking death of Vernon Grant, an inspirational team leader and multi-year starter. Gundy handled the early adversity with a steady hand beyond his years. The young Cowboys spent year one in transition with a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and a new defensive coordinator. The end result was a 4-7 season, although the campaign did include a win over No. 13 Texas Tech.

But by the end of April, 2006, that rookie season was long forgotten. The Cowboy coaches enjoyed a huge February with a signing class that paid immediate dividends, and by the end of spring football, a quiet confidence had settled over the program.

The new outlook proved to be justified as the Cowboys were one of America's most improved football teams in 2006. OSU fielded one of the country's most exciting offensive squads, displayed some talented underclassmen on defense and proved capable of bumping helmets with the elite of the Big 12.

When the dust had settled, the second season under Mike Gundy saw Oklahoma State improve from 4-7 to 7-6. And that win total, as impressive as it was, could have been even more pronounced as four Cowboy losses were decided on the final play of the game. The season included a win over Big 12 North champ Nebraska and a last-play loss to South champ Oklahoma. The season closed with a 34-31 win over Alabama in the PetroSun Independence Bowl. It was OSU's fourth bowl appearance in five seasons, but marked just the second postseason win for OSU since Barry Sanders hung up his orange-colored cleats in 1988. Scoring was up by more than two touchdowns per game as the 2006 edition of Cowboy football became one of the most prolific offensive teams in Oklahoma State history, averaging more than 35 points per game. Oklahoma State joined undefeated Boise State as the only two teams in the country to average more than 200 yards per game rushing and passing.

OSU's 2006 roster also produced some of the Big 12's brightest stars, including the offensive newcomer of the year and first-team all-Big 12 receiver Adarius Bowman, and the defensive freshman of the year in safety Andre Sexton. Bowman and offensive lineman Corey Hilliard were consensus first-team all-Big 12 selections. Bowman was Gundy's second straight offensive newcomer of the year (Mike Hamilton in 2005). The Cowboys finished Gundy's second year as head coach seventh nationally (and tops in the Big 12) in rushing, seventh nationally in scoring and No. 16 in total offense. The conference rushing title was a first for Oklahoma State. OSU followed up that ground attack with another team rushing title in 2007.

And as much fun as the Cowboys enjoyed on the field in 2006, away from the stadium, the improvement showed as well. Oklahoma State set a school record with eight players named to the first-team academic all-Big 12 team with 13 selections overall. Included in that total was academic All-American Darnell Smith.

Following the Cowboys' 2006 landmark home win over No. 20 Nebraska in a game in which the Cowboys overcame a 16-0 deficit and won going away, Gundy continued to keep his eye on the big picture. His postgame address to his team began and ended with off-the-field responsibilities that come with wearing the orange and black. That theme of accountability, expectations and hard work are the new staples of Cowboy football and clearly show the link of Gundy to past Cowboy teams.

The 2007 season saw the Cowboys take on the NCAA's toughest regular-season schedule. And when the dust had cleared, OSU had climbed to third place in the Big 12 South with a 4-4 conference record, posted its first win at Nebraska since the Kennedy Administration, fielded a record- setting offensive unit, and continued to set the table for a brighter future.

The Cowboy offense followed up its 2006 success with something unprecedented. OSU ended the 2007 season with 3,161 rushing yards and 3,161 passing yards. The Cowboys finished seventh nationally in total offense (486.3 yards per game). The season culminated with a 49-33 win over Indiana in the Insight Bowl and sophomore quarterback Zac Robinson set a new OSU single-season record in total offense.

In 2008, Oklahoma State's growing success extended beyond the sidelines. OSU set a new record for season ticket sales with just under 40,000 for the season. Oklahoma State also set a new record for average attendance (48,261) and set a single-game record (52,463 vs. Troy) on its way to nine wins. Robinson became the school's career total offense record holder, surpassing the mark of his head coach. The Cowboy offense finished sixth nationally with 488 yards per game. Along the way, OSU set a new school record with four straight games of more than 50 points.

Under Gundy, OSU has embraced the legends that wore the Cowboy uniform in the past. Former greats including Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Tatum Bell and Hart Lee Dykes, frequent the OSU sideline. Hundreds of former Cowboys are re-connecting with the program and many now participate in the Legends of the Grid Iron program hosted by OSU each spring. Gundy, a member of the Cowboy coaching staff for 12 of the past 16 seasons, became the school's 22nd head football coach on January 3, 2005. It was the culmination of a legendary career for one of Oklahoma's all-time great high school athletes.

Mike Gundy first arrived on the Oklahoma State campus in 1986 after a heavily-decorated prep career. He was an Oklahoma all-state selection in football and baseball and was selected as state's prep football player of the year by The Oklahoman and the Tulsa World. At the same time, he was a stellar student and a member of the National Honor Society.

As a senior, he led Midwest City High School to a state championship, including a dramatic come-from-behind win in the title game held on the OSU campus. Along the way, he completed 63 percent of his passes for nearly 1,800 yards while calling many of his own plays at the line of scrimmage.

After a heavyweight recruiting battle that centered on the state's two largest schools, Gundy cast his lot with Oklahoma State and prepared to redshirt his freshman season.

Just four games into his true freshman season, he took over the quarterback duties for Pat Jones' Oklahoma State Cowboys. He ended 1986 by being named as the nation's top freshman quarterback by The Sporting News. He became a four-year starter at Oklahoma State (1986-89), and led the Cowboys to a pair of bowl wins, the 1987 Sun Bowl over West Virginia and the 1988 Holiday Bowl over Wyoming. During those two seasons, OSU accumulated a 20-4 record. Gundy was voted into the Hall of Fame of the Holiday Bowl for his efforts in San Diego when he completed 20-of-24 passes for 314 yards.

The 1988 offense is the most prolific in OSU history, scoring more than 47 points per game and led by the trio of Mike Gundy, Barry Sanders and Hart Lee Dykes. Gundy ended his career as the Big Eight Conference's all-time leader in passing and total offense, and he still holds OSU's career record with 7,997 passing yards. He is second at OSU with 54 touchdown passes. He passed for 2,106 yards in 1987 and 2,163 in 1988.

After graduation, Gundy joined the Oklahoma State football staff. He coached the receivers in 1990, the quarterbacks from 1991-1993 and in 1995, and served as offensive coordinator during the 1994 season in the final year for Gundy's college coach, Pat Jones. Gundy has coached in Stillwater under each of the three previous Cowboy head coaches (Jones, Bob Simmons and Les Miles).

He then spent one season at Baylor (1996) as quarterbacks coach, and passing game coordinator, before heading to the ACC, where he coached at Maryland (1997-2000). He returned to Stillwater in 2001 as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, and he also coached OSU quarterbacks.

Gundy is just the third Oklahoma State graduate to assume the head coaching duties in Stillwater. Jim Lookabaugh (1939-49) and Floyd Gass (1969-71) were the others. Lookabaugh is a recent inductee into the OSU Hall of Honor. He led the Pokes to back-to-back New Years' Day bowls in 1945 and 1946.

Gundy and his wife, Kristen (also an OSU graduate), have three children, Gavin, Gunnar and Gage. He is the son of Ray and Judy Gundy.

Gundy As A Head Coach

2005	4-7 :: 1-7 Big 12
9/3	Montana State	W	15-0
9/8	at Florida Atlantic	W	23-3
9/17	Arkansas State	W	20-10
10/1	Colorado	L	0-34
10/8	Missouri	L	31-38
10/15	at Texas A&M	L	23-62
10/22	at Iowa State	L	10-37
10/29	Texas	L	28-47
11/12	Texas Tech	W	24-17
11/19	at Baylor	L	34-44
11/26	at Oklahoma	L	14-42

2006	7-6 :: 3-5 Big 12
9/2	Missouri State	W	52-10
9/9	vs. Arkansas State	W	35-7
9/16	Florida Atlantic	W	48-8
9/23	at Houston	L	25-34
10/7	at Kansas State	L	27-31
10/14	at Kansas	W	.42-32
10/21	Texas A&M	L-OT	33-34
10/28	Nebraska	W	41-29
11/4	at Texas	L	10-36
11/11	Baylor	W	66-24
11/18	at Texas Tech	L	24-30
11/25	Oklahoma	L	21-27
12/28	vs. Alabama*	W	34-31

2007	7-6 :: 4-4 Big 12
9/1	at No. 13 Georgia	L	14-35
9/8	Florida Atlantic	W	42-6
9/14	at Troy	L	23-41
9/22	Texas Tech.	W	49-45
9/29	Sam Houston State.	W	39-3
10/6	at Texas A&M.	L	23-24
10/13.	at Nebraska	W	45-14
10/20.	No. 25 Kansas State	W	41-39
11/3.	No. 14 Texas	L	35-38
11/10	No. 5 Kansas	L	28-43
11/17	at Baylor	W	45-14
11/24	at No. 10 Oklahoma	L	17-49
12/31.	vs. Indiana#	W	49-33

2008	9-4 :: 5-3 Big 12
8/30	at Washington St.	W	39-13
9/6	Houston	W	56-37
9/13	Missouri State	W	57-13
9/27	Troy	W	55-24
10/4	Texas A&M	W	56-28
10/11	at No. 3 Missouri	W	28-23
10/18	Baylor	W	34-6
10/25	at No. 1 Texas	L	24-28
11/1	Iowa State	W	59-17
11/8	at No. 2 Texas Tech	L	20-56
11/15	at Colorado	W	30-17
11/29	No. 3 Oklahoma	L	41-61
12/30	vs. No. 15 Oregon^	L	31-41

* Independence Bowl
# Insight Bowl
^ Holiday Bowl

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Coaching Capsule

Head Coaches Currently At Their Alma Mater: Football Bowl Subdivision

Gundy As A Head Coach

Related Videos