OSU Inks Mike Holder to Three-Year, Nearly $3 Million Extension

Less than two weeks ago, the Pistols Firing podcast inadvertently germinated the seed of the next weed to sprout up in Mike Gundy and Mike Holder’s relationship (at least according to public perception).

There have been assumptions that Holder, who just finalized plans on OSU’s future baseball stadium and saw his men’s golf program host and win a NCAA championship, might be eyeing retirement. Especially, with the hiring of his heir apparent(another assumption), Chad Weiberg, last year.

On Friday, that line of thinking was put to rest, or at least tabled for the immediate future.

The Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents approved a three-year contract extension for Holder to remain as the Director of Athletics through June 30, 2021, which will be a couple of months before his 73rd birthday.

With the extension comes a considerable pay raise. For 2017-18, Holder’s salary was $640,000. This three-year deal which starts July 1 will bump his annual salary to $950,000.

“Coach Holder’s compensation has been well below market for years,” said OSU President Burns Hargis in a release from OSU. “Under his leadership, Oklahoma State is one of the most well-rounded, competitive athletic programs in the country. Mike has led historic improvements in facilities and performance of our athletes and, with this adjustment, his compensation will be more in line with Big 12 athletic directors.”

Holder, who will arguably go down as the most successful AD in school history — there’s not much of an argument — has played for, attended, coached or served in some administrative role at OSU since 1968.

According to this survey by SpencerFane, Holder was previously at least the 7th-highest paid AD in the Big 12. Obviously that will change in a big way, and it looks as if Holder will now be in the top four.

Big 12 AD Compensation (as of May 20, 2018)