Oklahoma State AD is giving Mike Gundy more reason to leave

Mike Gundy has had great success at Oklahoma State, but it’s apparently not quite good enough for the athletic director.

Mike Gundy took over as head coach of his alma mater in 2005, and he has a 114-53 record over 13 seasons with eight wins in 12 bowl games. As the secondary citizen to rival Oklahoma in football, at least 10 wins in four of the last five seasons (six of the last eight) and routine Top-25 finishes is virtually unprecedented success at Oklahoma State.

In just this year’s NFL draft, Oklahoma State had four players drafted — quarterback Mason Rudoph, wide receivers James Washington and Marcel Ateman and safety Tre Flowers. That makes 22 Cowboys players drafted into the NFL during Gundy’s tenure. That points to very good player development, with the inherent challenges in recruiting high-profile prospects to Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Still, speaking to the “Pistols Firing” podcast earlier this week, Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder eventually landed on some harsh words for Gundy’s recruiting prowess.

"You’ve got to give credit to Mike Gundy. He’s really matured into a difference-maker as a coach. I would approach recruiting a little differently than he does. I’d want to finish higher in those recruiting rankings than we consistently do. I think that ultimately puts a ceiling on what you’re able to achieve."

Gundy has a strained relationship with Holder, and the coach’s rocky relationship with major Oklahoma State booster T. Boone Pickens has been well-documented. That has brought consistent chatter that Gundy could be headed out of town, and multiple interviews for major jobs.

Gundy seemed to respond to Holder’s comments on Twitter with two emojis, and he clearly speaks for the masses.

Oklahoma State finished 33rd nationally in 247 Sports 2018 recruiting rankings, behind Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma and Texas in the Big 12, with a high ranking from 247 of 25th (in 2011) since 2010.  So there’s something there in terms of landing higher in recruiting rankings, and the Cowboys’ peak final ranking of No. 3 in 2011 may be the ceiling Holder is trying to cite.

As much as it matters, if he wants to leave and the school will let him go without a fight/any further pay raise, Gundy is under contract at Oklahoma State essentially in perpetuity via the five-year contract extension he signed last year. There’s automatic rollover in the deal, with a year tacked on after each season if each side sees fit.

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Holder should be careful what he wishes for, but his comments suggest Gundy won’t be held back from leaving Oklahoma State any more.