Mike Gundy seems like a perfect match for Tennessee coaching vacancy
Tennessee is moving forward with its search for a football coach, and Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy looks like a good match.
Right or wrong, Tennessee is moving forward to find a new football coach after backing out of a deal to hire Greg Schiano based on public backlash. Duke head coach David Cutcliffe has reportedly said no already, and USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin still stands out as a candidate, but some are wondering whether or not he’s coveted for nostalgia purposes rather than being qualified.
The appeal of the Tennessee job has surely taken a hit after the fiasco with Schiano. So, candidates with past ties to the school, like Cutcliffe and Martin, have been emerging. But someone with very deep ties to another program, and no connection to Tennessee, has surfaced.
According to ESPN’s Chris Low, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy has had talks with representatives at Tennessee about the head coaching job. According to Jimmy Hyams of WNML radio in Knoxville, Gundy has even already been interviewed by Tennessee.
Gundy was also interviewed with Tennessee after the 2012 season, but he reportedly turned down an offer and Butch Jones was ultimately hired.
Gundy played quarterback at Oklahoma State in the late 1980s, spent most of his career as an assistant coach there and he has a 113-53 record as Cowboys’ head coach over 13 seasons. But he has had noted differences with key booster T. Boone Pickens, and while it’s far from certain, Gundy may be waiting for the right window to exit.
I’m told Mike Gundy scheduled to meet with Tennessee in Dallas today. One source says Gundy is serious about leaving Oklahoma State. Another isn’t: “You might as well say (Nick) Saban is up for the Rice job.” Stay tuned
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 28, 2017
Sources told me Mike Gundy notified Oklahoma State officials, as required by his contract, of his intention to speak with Tennessee about Vols’ job. That meeting scheduled today in Dallas.
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 28, 2017
There’s also this, courtesy of former Oklahoma State coach Pat Jones.
Pat Jones says Florida offered Mike Gundy the job after Chip Kelly & Scott Frost. Says Mike didn’t use it to negotiate with #okstate. "This job was offered to Mike Gundy."
— Carson Cunningham (@Carson_OKC) November 27, 2017
The possibility of three straight 10-win seasons, pending the result of a bowl, and that many wins in four of the last five seasons, is good for Gundy’s job security in the bigger picture. But a poor record against rival Oklahoma, and not ever taking the next step to legitimate national title contention, could be a source of frustration for all involved at Oklahoma State.
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After the debacle that was most of Jones’ tenure, Gundy would be a breath of fresh air at Tennessee. The biggest question is if he wants to leave his alma mater, and that seems to be on the table in a way it probably hasn’t been before.