Mike Gundy Fired as Oklahoma State Faces the New Realities of College Football

STILLWATER, Okla. - EntSun -- Oklahoma State University has parted ways with longtime head football coach Mike Gundy, ending a 21-year tenure that included 170 wins, eight double-digit win seasons, and a Big 12 championship in 2011.

The decision comes after the Cowboys' slow start to the season and amid broader shifts in college football that have made roster management more complex than ever.

Athletic director Chad Weiberg praised Gundy's impact, noting that OSU football had "reached an unprecedented level of success and national prominence" under his leadership. Still, he emphasized the university's need to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving sport.

Transfer Portal and NIL Shape the Game

More than on-field results, the rise of the NCAA's transfer portal and the explosion of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals have transformed the coaching landscape. With players moving schools more freely and financial incentives reshaping recruiting, many veteran coaches have struggled to adapt.

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Former Alabama coach Nick Saban, who stepped down earlier this year, tied Gundy's exit to these challenges:
"Some people have a tougher time embracing the whole idea of paying players, especially some of us old timers. Mike Gundy has been a great coach for a long time. Coaching is teaching, and teaching is ability to inspire learning. For those of us who kind of get that and that's been our self-gratification for so many years, embracing paying the players has been a little bit harder, and I think that ultimately is what got them at Oklahoma State."

Looking Ahead

Oklahoma State now turns to finding a leader capable of navigating both the traditional demands of coaching and the new realities of NIL and player mobility. Gundy leaves as one of the most successful coaches in program history, but his departure highlights the pressures facing even the most established leaders in today's college football.

This news article about college football is from RobbinsAthletics.com: https://robbinsathletics.com