STILLWATER — —



Oklahoma State University football coach Mike Gundy has agreed to an 8-year contract extension, university officials confirmed Saturday.

Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis and athletic director Mike Holder said the university and Gundy had agreed to the framework of an eight-year contract that extends his contract by four years.

Details are being finalized, but sources close to the negotiations said Gundy will be paid approximately $3.25 million a year. The OSU/A&M Board of Regents must approve the contract extension.

Gundy’s salary will be paid by OSU’s athletics department through money generated by the sports programs through ticket sales, broadcast revenues, donations and other sources.

In a prepared statement, Hargis and Holder said: “Mike Gundy has done an exceptional job of leading our football program to unprecedented success. More importantly, the success has been achieved by doing things the right way.”

The statement said Gundy has established a family atmosphere in the program that stresses obeying the rules, good sportsmanship and classroom excellence. It also states his coaching staff and players represent the university in a positive manner on and off the field.

“This agreement recognizes the value of his leadership and rewards him for establishing himself as one of the bright young coaches in college football,” according to the statement.

Gundy will be in New Orleans, La., on Monday accepting the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. He was notified  he was the award winner before the Fiesta Bowl.

Minutes after news of Gundy’s contract surfaced, OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden posted a message on Twitter that read: “Congrats to Coach Gundy on his contract extension. He definitely deserves it!”

Gundy’s new salary will make him the ninth highest paid college football coach in the country and No. 3 in the Big 12, according to the USA Today coaches salary database.

Texas coach Mack Brown is the highest paid coach at $5.19 million a year. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops ranks No. 3 overall and No. 2 in the Big 12 with a $4.07 million a year contract.

Gundy earned $2.1 million this season, plus a $100,000 bonus for winning the Big 12 title.

In the past two seasons, Gundy has guided Oklahoma State to a 23-3 record, including OSU’s 12-1 record this season. It was OSU’s first 12-win season. The Pokes won their first Big 12 championship and defeated Stanford 41-38 in overtime in Monday’s Fiesta Bowl. It was OSU’s first BCS Bowl game.

Gundy has compiled a 59-30 record in seven seasons as OSU’s football coach. He is four wins shy of becoming the coach with the most wins in school history.

Tuesday, Gundy called for the OSU administration and fans to rededicate themselves to maintaining a winning attitude and program at OSU. It’s harder to stay on top than to reach the top, Gundy said.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that Mike Gundy is committed to Oklahoma State football,” Gundy said on Tuesday. “Our coaching staff is committed. If we get everybody on board, we have a chance to keep this going.”

Gundy said he wasn’t specifically referring to contract negotiations. University officials need to commit to keeping OSU’s football facilities among the best in the nation. He praised OSU’s fans and said they need to continue buying season tickets. Boone Pickens Stadium needs to be sold out every home game.

“If we don’t get everybody on board,” Gundy said Tuesday. “You fall back into the ranks with everybody else because football is a big-time operation that takes a lot of work.”



Day is the sports editor of the Stillwater NewsPress.