Mike Gundy took over as the 23rd Oklahoma State University football coach on Jan. 3, 2005. At that time, the OSU football program had an all-time record of 473-496-48 (48.9 pct.). With Gundy at the helm, OSU is 166-79-0 (67.8 pct.). Oklahoma State had 16 bowl appearances in its 105 seasons prior to Gundy, but with him as coach, the Cowboys have made 18 bowl appearances in 19 years, only missing one his first year in 2005. Gundy first arrived on the OSU campus in 1986 after a heavily decorated prep career. He was a four-year starter at OSU from 1986-89 and led the Cowboys to a pair of bowl wins — the 1987 Sun Bowl over West Virginia and the 1988 Holiday Bowl over Wyoming. During those two seasons, OSU accumulated a 20-4 record. Gundy ended his career as the Big Eight Conference’s all-time leader in passing and total offense. More than 20 years after his playing career, his name is still featured throughout the OSU record books. Most of his personal marks stood until Gundy assumed coaching duties. He began his college career by throwing 138 passes before tossing his first career interception. That streak remained an NCAA record until 2008. After graduation, Gundy immediately joined the OSU football staff at the age of 23. He coached the receivers in 1990, the quarterbacks from 1991-93 and in 1994, served as offensive coordinator during the final year for Gundy’s college coach, Pat Jones. Gundy coached in Stillwater under each of the three previous Cowboy coaches (Jones, Bob Simmons and Les Miles). He spent one season at Baylor (1996) as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator before heading to the ACC, where he coached at Maryland from 1997-2000. He returned to Stillwater in 2001 as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, and he also coached OSU quarterbacks. Gundy is just the third OSU graduate to assume the coaching duties in Stillwater. Jim Lookabaugh (1939-49) and Floyd Gass (1969-71) were the others.
