Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gundy A National Coach of the Year Finalist
November 23, 2010 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 23, 2010
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy is one of eight finalists for the 2010 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award, it was announced by the Football Writers Association of America today.
Under Gundy's watch, Oklahoma State has become perhaps the most pleasant surprise in all of college football this year. The Cowboys were picked to finish either fifth or sixth in the Big 12 South by most experts in the preseason, yet they have amassed a 10-1 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the league to claim at least a share of the Big 12 South title. A win over Oklahoma this week would give the Cowboys the outright division championship.
In his sixth year as head coach at his alma mater, Gundy has led the program to new heights. This year's Cowboys have won 10 games in the regular season for the first time in school history and are set to appear in their fifth consecutive bowl game, which is another OSU first. The Pokes have compiled a 30-10 overall record under Gundy over the last 40 games.
From an individual standpoint, Gundy's players have performed at an especially high level the last three years, as Matt Fodge won the 2008 Ray Guy Award as America's top punter, Brandon Pettigrew was a 2008 finalist for the Mackey Award presented to the nation's top tight end, Dez Bryant was the runner-up for the 2008 Biletnikoff Award given to the nation's top wide receiver, Russell Okung was a 2009 finalist for the Outland Trophy given to the nation's top interior lineman, Dan Bailey is a finalist for the 2010 Lou Groza Award given to the nation's top kicker, Kendall Hunter is a finalist for the 2010 Doak Walker Award given to the nation's top running back and Justin Blackmon is following Bryant's lead as a 2010 finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
The national profile of the Oklahoma State program has skyrocketed the last three years under Gundy, as the Cowboys have been featured twice on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine and have hosted ESPN's popular College Football GameDay on two different occasions.
The other finalists for 2010 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year are Wisconsin's Bret Bielema, Auburn's Gene Chizik, Michigan State's Mark Dantonio, Stanford's Jim Harbaugh, Oregon's Chip Kelly, TCU's Gary Patterson and Boise State's Chris Petersen.
The winner will be announced at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on Dec. 6.
The FWAA coaching award is named after the late Robinson, a coaching legend at Grambling State University for 55 years. He has more Division I victories (408) than any other coach in the history of college football. The FWAA has presented a national coach of the year award since 1957 and named the award in Robinson's honor in 1997.
