Mike Gundy Compares Recruiting to Selling Vacuum Cleaners, Again

Of all the Mike Gundy-isms in the world, the vacuum cleaner sales comparison with recruiting is definitely skyrocketing to the top of my list.

For a second time in the past year during a discussion on recruiting, the head man likened vacuum cleaner sales to recruiting like only Mike Gundy could do.

From 8 months ago, here’s what he had to say on the short period coaches have regarding face time with recruits. “If you are selling a product to earn a living, and you had to do that to pay the bills, if someone came to you and said ‘Hey, you only have 14 days to sell vacuum cleaners,’ it would concern you.”

So fast forward 8 months to a conversation he had with ESPN’s Brandon Chatmon, and what else should you expect? More vacuum cleaner sales references!

“It needs to be more strategic,” Gundy told Chatmon of recruiting the region. “If you’re selling vacuum cleaners for a living you have to go somewhere where you think you can sell the most vacuum cleaners with the least amount of overhead expense.”

Gundy actually went pretty in-depth with his analysis on why OSU stays more local in their recruiting approach and haven’t expanded their reach nationally, adding that “the percentage in Texas is higher, with young men who know your program.”

He clearly has something he likes in his approach. And as a fan, I enjoy Gundy at least being cognizant of the expenses vs. the return in recruiting. Oklahoma State spent the LEAST amount in recruiting in all Power 5 schools in 2013-2014, but also had the highest return on investment. So whatever he’s got going is working for him. Why change it?