Contract reduced from 5 years to 4-year term

Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy, after meeting with OSU President Burns Hargis, voluntarily agreed to a million-a-year pay cut and a reduction in his contract from five years to four years.

The decision was based partially on expected budget shortfalls for OSU due to the Chinese coronavirus pandemic but it comes under the shadow of criticism of Gundy because of a T-shirt he wore from a conservative news network.

OSU players, including star running back Chuba Hubbard, threatened to boycott practice unless “things change.” Gundy apologized and said he didn’t know that the news network had criticized the “Black Lives Matter” movement.

Gundy was supposed to make $5.25 million in 2020 but now he will make $4.25 million instead. His contract, a five-year deal with a one-year annual rollover, was changed to a four-year deal with an annual rollover.

OSU countered with a reduction in the amount Gundy would have to pay if he broke the contract and left OSU. That amount was $5 million and it has been lowered to $4 million.

And Gundy agreed to a reduced amount if he were fired without cause. Previously, OSU would have had to pay him 75% of his remaining contract but that has been reduced to 50%.

Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder said the moves followed an internal investigation into the football program under Gundy.

“This wasn’t about a T-shirt. This was about a lot of things,” Holder said in a statement. “We learned that our players love OSU. They love being on our football team. They love their teammates. There are a lot more positives about our program than negatives. Players want to be great, and they’re willing to make sacrifices. They’re unselfish and loyal. Our coaches have done a great job of recruiting high-character young men.

“The missing link has been a more personal relationship with their head coach. They respect him as an excellent game-day coach, but they want more coaching on a personal level. This crosses all racial lines. To a man, our players want a better connection (with) Mike Gundy. They view him as a difference-maker, and they want him to help them grow as leaders.

“We conveyed this message to coach Gundy, and his reaction has been everything that you would want. He has been humble, remorseful and committed to change. As uncomfortable as the last two weeks have been, I believe this experience has changed Mike Gundy and our players will be the beneficiaries. At the end of the journey, the decision was obvious. Mike Gundy is an excellent coach and he has accomplished a lot in his 15-year career. However, the best is yet to come.”

Hargis thinks the problems are fixed.

“This issue is fixable,” Hargis said in a statement. “After meeting with both Mike Holder and Mike Gundy, I believe they are committed to taking steps to strengthen the relationship, which will improve communications and the program. I appreciate the student-athletes speaking candidly and the efforts of Mike Holder and Chad Weiberg to spend considerable time listening to present and past players.

‘It is time to turn our attention to preparing for this year’s highly anticipated football season.”