Oklahoma State is replacing Mike Gundy after 21 years. Who are its top coaching candidates?

After 21 seasons, Mike Gundy is out at Oklahoma State.

The 58-year-old former Cowboys quarterback had already been on the recent seat when the season started. A 69-3 loss to Oregon adopted by final Friday’s loss to Tulsa for the primary time since 1998 made it apparent Gundy’s time in Stillwater was coming to a quick finish. On Tuesday, the varsity made it official, turning into the third Energy 4 program to make an in-season teaching change following UCLA and Virginia Tech.

So who may Oklahoma State rent to be its first new head coach since Gundy took over for Les Miles in 2005?

Present head coaches

If the Cowboys wish to pursue a sitting head coach, there are 4 fairly robust choices with essential regional ties.

UTSA’s Jeff Traylor, a former state-championship-winning Texas highschool coach, has carried out an excellent job in San Antonio. He’s 48-22 and has not had a shedding season with a program that had 5 shedding seasons in six years earlier than he took over. Traylor is revered by Texas highschool coaches and has repeatedly proven a eager eye for expertise. His newest star, working again Robert Henry Jr., got here from the Mississippi junior faculty ranks and leads the nation in dashing. Traylor turned down an opportunity to be the pinnacle coach at Texas Tech 4 years in the past. Would he move up a chance for one of many massive jobs within the Massive 12 now?

North Texas’ Eric Morris can be forward of the curve as an evaluator. When he was at Washington State as a younger receivers coach, he tried to persuade his mentor, Mike Leach, to supply Baker Mayfield, regardless of no different energy convention packages being . Later, as the pinnacle coach of FCS Incarnate Phrase, Morris discovered and developed Cam Ward, who later grew to become the No. 1 draft select of Miami. Then, when Morris was the offensive coordinator at Washington State, he discovered John Mateer for the Cougars when no different FBS packages would provide him. The 39-year-old Texas native is 39-32 in seven seasons as a head coach. His Imply Inexperienced are off to a quick begin this season at 4-0, together with a 59-10 dismantling of Washington State and a 45-38 win at Military. This could be a tricky job for Morris to show down.

Texas State’s GJ Kinne, 36, is 31-13 as a head coach, together with a 12-2 season within the FCS at Incarnate Phrase in 2022. He was a star QB in-state at Tulsa and has moved up rapidly within the teaching ranks. Kinne is likely one of the brightest younger minds in soccer. After two 8-5 seasons at Texas State, his Bobcats are 3-1 — and that features a 43-36 win over Traylor’s Roadrunners.

South Florida’s Alex Golesh is the one head coach who truly has labored in Stillwater. He was a grad assistant at Oklahoma State in 2008. The 41-year-old, along with his warp-speed offensive system, has realized underneath Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and Tennessee’s Josh Heupel, amongst others. He’s 17-13 as a head coach at USF, however that file is deceiving. USF was dreadful earlier than he obtained to Tampa, going 4-29 in three years. He went 7-6 and received bowl video games in every of his first two years, and now the Bulls are 3-1 with wins over Boise State and Florida.

Intriguing coordinator choices

If the Cowboys don’t go for somebody with head teaching expertise, there are some attractive coordinators who we count on may need a tough time saying no to this job.

Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein confirmed Oklahoma State brass how prolific his system is when the Geese whipped the Cowboys 69-3 earlier this month. Stein’s offense ran for over 300 yards and handed for over 300 that day, averaging 10.2 yards per play. He’s regarded by some within the enterprise as the highest play caller in faculty soccer proper now, in line with a latest research by XandO Labs, a training analysis firm. The 35-year-old from Louisville additionally has robust ties to the area, having coached at Texas, UTSA and Lake Travis Excessive Faculty in Austin.

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who simply turned 30 earlier this month, may very well be particularly tempting for the Cowboys, as it could additionally weaken their in-state rival. Arbuckle simply arrived in Norman and introduced his star QB Mateer with him from Washington State. The Texas native has produced explosive offenses all over the place he’s been.

Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has performed an important position within the Canes’ resurgence. The Louisiana native was at Houston proper earlier than going to Miami, the place he had the nation’s No. 1 offense in yards per play final yr with Ward. Dawson has been picky within the jobs he considers and acquired some curiosity final yr however opted to remain in Coral Gables.

Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is a well-respected coach who did an impressive job because the Kansas OC when Lance Leipold elevated the Jayhawks from the underside of the Massive 12. The 45-year-old has additionally carried out very nicely in Blissful Valley, and we’re advised he’s on a number of ADs’ radars for his creativity and demeanor.

Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon retains producing massive performs in Upstate New York, whatever the QB. Final yr, the 50-year-old helped Kyle McCord blossom, because the Orange had the nation’s No. 1 passing offense. This yr, it’s been Steve Angeli lighting up defenses, and after the Notre Dame switch obtained harm, backup Rickie Collins got here in and completed off the win at Clemson. Nixon, a Penn State product, has coached within the Massive 12 earlier than, having labored as Baylor’s co-OC underneath Matt Rhule.

NFL assistants to observe

There are two wild-card candidates that the Cowboys probably will contemplate, however the timing may be a non-starter.

One is Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, a former star quarterback at Oklahoma State. However the 38-year-old Sean McVay protege won’t be fascinated with leaving the NFL and has by no means coached in faculty.

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken was the OC at Oklahoma State when the Cowboys received the Massive 12 in 2011, and he has faculty head teaching expertise, having carried out a pleasant job at Southern Miss from 2013-15 in turning round what was a bleak scenario. He went from 1-11 in his first season to 9-5 in his third yr. Monken, 59, has an excellent job within the NFL because the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, teaching Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Bailing on a perennial NFL playoff workforce would appear like a protracted shot.

(Picture of Jeff Traylor: Scott Wachter / Imagn Photographs)