‘I Love What I Do’: Mike Gundy Fields Questions about Job Status at Weekly News Conference

STILLWATER — Mike Gundy on Monday didn’t hide from the fact that there are questions flying around the public sphere about his job status, but one concise answer he gave during his weekly news conference put bluntly on where he stands.

The Oklahoman‘s Joe Mussatto asked Gundy if he had no interest in the 2025 season being his last as Oklahoma State’s coach.

“100%,” Gundy responded.

Little from Monday’s news conference had to do with what happens on the field. Oklahoma State suffered a 19-12 loss to Tulsa in Boone Pickens Stadium on Friday. It was the first time the Cowboys had lost at home to TU since 1951.

That alone was bad, but the loss is also part of a streak that has seen Gundy’s Cowboys lose to 11 straight FBS opponents by a combined score of 454-213.

Gundy’s job seemed in danger last offseason when he ended up agreeing to a reduced salary. It seemed more in danger when the Cowboys went to Eugene, Oregon a few weeks back and lost to the Ducks by 66 points. Then came this loss to Tulsa.

At Monday’s media luncheon, Gundy was as open as he has been about his future.

“I’m under contract here for, I think, about 3.5 years, or three (years and four months),” Gundy said. “When I was hired here to take this job, ever since that day, I’ve put my heart and soul into this, and I will continue to do that until at some point if I say I don’t want to do it or if somebody else says we don’t want you to do it. …

“It’s not about me. It’s about the team and about the organization. That’s the way I see it, and it’ll always be that way. But I love what I do. I have the exact same amount of energy that I’ve had from Day 1 doing this. There’s still some strategic things that are involved with each team every year based on talent and what’s available and certain things. …

“There’s never ever become a time that I haven’t wanted to come to work and pour my heart and soul into what I do for the players. That has never come about.”

Gundy said across the past three or four days he’s visited with a few head coaches at different levels from around the country, inquiring on the different things they are doing.

Gundy’s Stillwater empire was built of under-the-radar evaluation and excellent development — turning two- and three-star prospects into four- and five-star players.

A common theory in his program’s downturn is that just isn’t the way college football operates any more. NIL and the transfer portal means guys aren’t staying in one spot long enough to develop within a system. Gundy also didn’t shy away from that fact on Monday.

“College football, as we all know, has changed in a very, very dramatic fashion, and it’s really not the old college football,” Gundy said. “This is a paid game. So, whether I agree with it or not makes zero difference. It’s like being in an argument with your wife, and you know you’re right — it makes zero difference. You’re wrong. Might as well just get over it, give in, things are gonna be much smoother. So, I’m just giving you that.

“So at some point in my life, I will address a lot of things, but right now, my responsibility is our team and what I’ve been hired to do 21 years ago. And I am 100% all in on that, and that’s what I will do based on the hand that we’ve all been dealt.”

Another aspect of all this is that OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg has been working without a contract since the end of June. That has led to speculation as to what his job status is moving forward, as well.

“I don’t know anything about that,” Gundy said. “That stuff’s way over my head. That’s one thing I don’t have to worry about. I don’t know anything. I have a good relationship with Chad. I think Chad is good. I think he’s very innovative. I think he loves OSU. But all that’s way over my head.”

Gundy was also asked whether he or an agent has been in contact with Weiberg or other OSU higher ups about the state of the program. Gundy said he hasn’t had an agent for some time, so that would go through him.

“I don’t necessarily think that we have to have a conversation,” Gundy said. “I can honestly say no, but I think that they share a same vision that I have. And I think maybe the conversation hasn’t had to take place because I’ve been here for 21 years. And I think they know what’s on my mind. I certainly know, well I shouldn’t say I know, that would be judgmental, but I probably have a pretty good feel for what they want. So, I don’t really know that that needs to take place, but I guess my answer to that would be no at this point.”