STILLWATER, Okla. — Hours after Oklahoma State introduced the firing of longtime soccer coach Mike Gundy amid a 1-2 begin, athletic director Chad Weiberg emphasised the choice was made with the “greatest curiosity of shifting this system ahead in the long run.”
Gundy, the second-longest-tenured FBS head coach, was in his twenty first season main the Cowboys, trailing solely Kirk Ferentz, Iowa’s coach since 1999. His exit, introduced late Tuesday morning, comes 4 days after the Cowboys misplaced 19-12 to Tulsa final Friday.
“I anticipated the outcomes of this season to be totally different than they have been thus far,” Weiberg informed reporters Tuesday. “That goes again to the expectation stage that Coach Gundy has set for this program.
“We’ve greater expectations than that, so when it does not seem that that was not going to be met, it felt like for the great of this system it was time to make this resolution in order that we might begin the method of getting this system the place we would like it to be.”
Weiberg confirmed that he knowledgeable Gundy of his firing in a gathering Tuesday morning. Acknowledging Gundy’s lengthy historical past in Stillwater, Weiberg spoke to the significance of making certain his exit was dealt with “proper,” and mentioned that contributed to the timing of the choice.
Gundy, 58, was not supplied the chance to stay in his position by the tip of the season, in response to Weiberg, who defined that Gundy is ready to obtain the total sum of the $15 million buyout outlined in his contract, which was set to run by the 2028 season.
First-year Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Doug Meacham will function the Cowboys’ interim head coach, starting with this Saturday’s house recreation in opposition to Baylor. Longtime energy and conditioning coach Rob Glass is predicted to supervise administrative duties throughout the program.
Gundy, the winningest coach in program historical past, returned to Oklahoma State this fall underneath a restructured contract following a 3-9 end in 2024, this system’s first shedding season since Gundy’s first in cost in 2005. The loss to Tulsa got here solely two weeks after the Cowboys’ 69-3 loss at Oregon on Sept. 6 and marked Oklahoma State’s eleventh consecutive defeat in opposition to FBS opposition. All informed, Gundy dropped 11 of his final 12 video games in cost.
In outlining the choice to maneuver on from Gundy with 9 video games remaining, Weiberg pointed to these disappointing outcomes, which got here after the college poured “vital investments” into this system following the 2024 season. He additionally seemed forward, citing the long-term well being of Oklahoma State soccer past 2025.
“I get that there is issues proper right here within the right here and now, this week, immediately, tomorrow,” Weiberg mentioned. “However we additionally need to be taking a look at what’s higher for this system over the following yr, two years, 5 years.”
Whereas hypothesis swirled round Gundy’s job safety this month, Weiberg’s personal future with the college has been mired in uncertainty, with the 53-year-old athletic director working and not using a contract since late June.
Weiberg confirmed Tuesday that he’ll lead the seek for the college’s subsequent soccer coach. Whereas a brand new deal has not been formally accomplished, sources informed ESPN that Weiberg is poised to signal a four-year contract with a elevate on his present annual wage of $750,000.
Weiberg mentioned the timing of Tuesday’s resolution will enable Oklahoma State to put the groundwork for this system’s future and its pursuit of a brand new rent later this yr, however declined to supply a definitive timeline.
After parting with a coach who at occasions grumbled in school soccer’s NIL/revenue-share period, Weiberg emphasised the sources accessible at Oklahoma State. “This isn’t a cheap soccer group that we’ve got on the sphere this season,” Weiberg mentioned and bolstered the significance of what lies forward as this system embarks on its first teaching search in twenty years.
“This resolution under no circumstances ought to take away from the years of success OSU soccer has had underneath Coach Gundy’s management,” Weiberg mentioned. “Because of him, we all know profitable the Large 12 championship, going to the School Soccer Playoff and competing for championships are real looking targets. They continue to be attainable targets, however the stakes are excessive and competitors is intense. Will probably be critically essential for the OSU household to unite behind the following chief of Cowboy soccer.”