The former president of Texas Tech University, Dr. David Schmidly, became the 17th president in the history of OSU on Nov. 25, 2002.

Schmidly adapted and applied several business concepts and planning procedures in running the university. The first and only chief administrator to use the title president and system CEO, Schmidly initiated the first OSU strategic plan to encompass the university’s five campuses and all of its units across Oklahoma. He launched a system-wide building plan to help attract top students and faculty and produce graduates who would spur the economy.

His administration oversaw the renovation of the football stadium and construction work for a new athletic village at OSU, funded with a 165 million gift from alumnus Boone Pickens. Schmidly resigned in 2007 to become the next president of the University of New Mexico.