(Pokes Report’s Zachary Lancaster contributed to this story.)
STILLWATER – On Friday morning, the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents held a special meeting in regard to the employment of the Oklahoma State football coaching staff. The truth is they could have switched the verbage out and jut put head footbal coach Mike Gundy. While Chairman Jimmy Harrel told the media afterwards that they have a plan in place to be enacted soon, no action had been taken Friday morning. The regents were in executive session for just over two hours on Friday morning during that included close to an hour with Oklahoma State University President Dr. Kayse Shrum and athletics director Chad Weiberg. Shrum and Weiberg were dismissed before the end of the meeting. When the two departed they came out of the meeting room with a look of shock and dismay. A look I had never seen on either of their faces before.
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Well, hours later, John Holcomb of Channel 6 out of Tulsa reported that coach Gundy had been offered a restructured contract for less money.
Pokes Report had confirmed that Oklahoma State is trying to come up with an amended contract for Mike Gundy which will pay him significantly less than his current contract.
It could also, more strictly, monitor his hiring process for assistant coaches. Pokes Report has also learned there is a window for the deal to be agreed upon. We cannot confirm that it is 5 p.m. on Friday, December 6th.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
OSU Presoident Dr. Kayse Shrum, Mike Gundy, and Chad Weiberg after Oklahoma State beat Notre Dame in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl.
Later, Pokes Report learned that most of the afternoon Cowboys head football coach Mike Gundy was in the Oklahoma State Athletic Center (Gallagher-Iba Arena) meeting with athletics director Weiberg in Weiberg’s office. Another source told us that Dr. Shrum joined Gundy and Weiberg later in the afternoon. As of this writing after 4:30 p.m. they were all still there.
One source told us that the 5 p.m. deadline may not have been as hard a time limit as has been reported. Another source told us that there is a deadline.
All of this comes less than a week after the Cowboys finished the 2024 season 3-9 overall and 0-9 in Big 12 play. On Wednesday, it was announced Gundy had fired both offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo.
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Mulitple sources have said Regents chair Harrel was out to get head coach Mike Gundy.
The bigger issue may be the damage that has been done to Gundy and the Oklahoma State football program with the circus the process has become in the regional and national media. When interrupted by this process and the Board of Regents special proceeding, Gundy was at work and reportedly close to announcing at least one of the coordinator hires. The NCAA Transfer Portal opens at midnight Sunday into Monday and Oklahoma State has worked hard to be ready to pull out players from the portal that can help turn the Cowboy football fortunes around. This “dog and pony show” is not helping.