Mike Gundy Gets New Contract Terms Making Him Highest Paid Coach in Big 12

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State University and its Board of Regents have approved new contract terms for Cowboys head football coach Mike Gundy that were brought to the board primarily by the school’s athletics director Chad Weiberg. The new terms make Gundy the highest paid football head coach in the Big 12 Conference and the highest paid coach in Oklahoma State history. In the first year of the new terms, which is the upcoming year of 2022, Gundy will receive $7.46-million. The total value of the contract for the first five-years is $38.25-million.

The overall terms for the five-year rollover deal remain the same with the perpetual rollover. Gundy receives a $1-million raise in annual salary and then at the end of the calendar year in December, he receives what could be considered a $1-million stay bonus. Should Gundy no longer be the coach at the end of the calendar year then that bonus would not be paid. Gundy also receives a $125,000 increase in salary each year.

Before these new terms were negotiated and taken to and approved by the Oklahoma State University System Board of Regents, Gundy was scheduled to make $5-million in 2022. The buyouts are steep for the University if they were to fire Gundy without cause and for Gundy, if he were to try to leave for any other position.

Oklahoma State has been getting a premier football program for a steal, and even now with the increased salaries for Gundy and all football staff is getting more than their monies worth. With the wins, football revenue, football attention and marketing, OSU is still getting a great deal on the investment. Also, national media will now see this and truly believe Oklahoma State is serious about being a leader in college football’s future.

The Cowboys head coach to the media earlier this week before the first spring practice that he and his entire coaching and support staff had been taken care of by adminstration.

“Between Dr. Shrum and Chad Weiberg, they've completely revamped our people that work in that football building financially. I mean, they've taken care of football and taken football to a level that with the exception of Oklahoma and Texas — which I don't know if we'll be in their category budget-wise in my lifetime, but a year or two from now they won't be in our league, so I don't have to worry about that — but for the most part, they've taken the staff and everybody in that building to a level financially that will be the tops in this league,” Gundy said. “That is a huge commitment because that keeps continuity and structure. There's almost 100 people that work in our building in all different areas, and the large majority of them have been with us or with me a long time and that helps me. So in my opinion and when they make that commitment, they're showing that football is important and it gives us a chance to play at a high level."

We know that new defensive coordinator Derek Mason accepted a two-year contract for $1.1-million per year. He had been paid $1.5-million at Auburn. We know that all of the Oklahoma State full-time assistant coaches are receiving raises and most new contracts, since those were allowed to lapse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those salaries had not all been announced or Pokes Report had not learned them. We believe that Kasey Dunn will move close to the $1-million mark. Senior staffers such as linebackers coach Joe Bob Clements, corners coach Tim Duffie, and safeties coach Dan Hammerschmidt will be in the $600,000-$800,000 range. All assistants received increased salaries. 

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Oklahoma State football has has unprecedented success under Gundy.

Gundy, a former quarterback at the school and one of the all-time winningest quarterbacks at Oklahoma State , has been a position coach, an offensive coordinator for both Pat Jones and then later for Les Miles, before becoming head coach prior to 2005. Gundy has become the Cowboys all-time winning head football coach with a record of 149-69 in his 17 seasons.

He has led Oklahoma State to the Big 12 Conference Championship in 2011 and the Big 12 Championship Game in 2021. He has led the program to 16 straight bowl games and winning seasons. His teams have played in two Cotton Bowls, two Fiesta Bowls, and a Sugar Bowl making five New Year’s Six games. His out of conference wins include Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami (Fla.), Stanford, Georgia, Washington, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, and Boise State.

Gundy is a multiple Big 12 Coach of the Year award winner and has also won National Coach of the Year awards.