Who will replace Mike Gundy? Eight candidates Oklahoma State may consider
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Who will replace Mike Gundy? Eight candidates Oklahoma State may consider
Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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4 min read
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This is how theMike Gundy eraends:With a 69-3 loss to Oregonthat represents the program's largest margin of defeat since 1907,a loss to in-state upstart Tulsafor the first time since 1998 and a midweek firing one day after Gundy responded to what he termed "fair questions" about his dwindling job security.
The Oklahoma State job is open for the first time since 2005, when Gundy was promoted to replace LSU-bound Les Miles. The last season for the Cowboys that didn't feature Gundy in some capacity was in 2000, when he was an assistant coach at Maryland.
The former Oklahoma State quarterback leaves a wide legacy as the winningest coach inprogram historyand some big shoes to fill. Still, his successor will face less pressure given how the Cowboys have cratered since the start of last year.
These coaches would fit the bill for the Cowboys, starting with a pair of Group of Five head coaches ready for a bigger challenge:
Eric Morris, North Texas
A former receiver for Texas Tech, the Mike Leach and Kliff Kingsbury disciple has done good work at North Texas, going from five wins in 2023 to a First Responder Bowl bid last season to this year's 4-0 start, which includes recent wins against Washington State and Army. Morris previously spent four years (2018-21) at Incarnate Word, where he recruited and developedCam Ward; the two were reunited in 2022 with Morris as the offensive coordinator at Washington State. Morris has the chops as an offensive coach and the knowledge of the region to be a very strong fit in Stillwater.
North Texas football coach Eric Morris reacts during the first half of his team's game against Texas State in the 2025 First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
GJ Kinne, Texas State
Kinne is a little less experienced than Morris, whom he replaced as the coach at Incarnate Word in 2022. Kinne has also never been a full-time assistant in the Power Four. But his record speaks volumes: Texas State went 8-5 in each of his first two years and is one of the favorites in the Sun Belt this season. Like Morris, he has a track record of productive offenses built around strong quarterback play.
Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Mike Gundy possesses the ball during the 1988 college football season.
(Malcolm Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy checks the scoreboard during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 1, 2007.
(Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy gestures on the sidelines during a game against Washington State on Aug. 30, 2008.
(Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State Cowboys coach Mike Gundy, left, and Oregon Ducks coach Mike Bellotti shake hands after the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 30, 2008.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
Coach Mike Gundy, left, gives Oklahoma State University mega booster Boone Pickens a hug as President Burns Hargis and mascot Pistol Pete look on at a ribbon cutting for Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater on Sept. 5, 2009.
(DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, left, shakes hands with Georgia head coach Mark Richt after a victory at Boone Pickens Stadium on Sept. 5, 2009.
(Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, right, meets with Ole Miss head coach Houston McNutt after the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on Jan. 2, 2010. The Rebels beat the Cowboys 21-7.
(Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE, US PRESSWIRE)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, left, and Texas head coach Mack Brown speak before a game on Oct. 15, 2011.
(Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy gets the Gatorade shower by defensive ends Jamie Blatnick and Richetti Jones after the Cowboys defeated the Oklahoma Sooners on Dec. 3, 2011.
(Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert celebrates with wide receiver Justin Blackmon and head coach Mike Gundy, left, after the Cowboys won beat the Stanford Cardinal 41-38 in overtime in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2, 2012.
(Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy, right, poses for a photo with Eddie Robinson Jr. during the Eddie Robinson coach of the year award presentation on Jan. 8, 2012.
(John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy on the sidelines during the game against the Florida State Seminoles on Aug. 30, 2014.
(Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State linebacker Seth Jacobs celebrates with the defensive player of the game trophy alongside head coach Mike Gundy, right, after the Cowboys defeated the Washington Huskies in the Cactus Bowl on Jan. 2, 2015.
(Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, left, speaks with West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen after a game on Oct. 10, 2015.
(Ben Queen, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, right, and Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze meet before the Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Jan. 1, 2016.
(Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy waves to his players along with the cheerleaders following their 44-7 victory over South Alabama on Sept. 8, 2017.
(John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy reacts during a game against the Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 25, 2017.
(Rob Ferguson, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, right, and Baylor head coach Matt Rhule talk before a game on Oct. 19, 2019.
(Rob Ferguson, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, left, and Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley meet before a game on Nov. 30, 2019.
(Rob Ferguson, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy works the sidelines during a game against Boise State on Sept. 18, 2021.
(Loren Orr, Getty Images)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy walks the sidelines during the Big 12 championship game against Baylor at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 4, 2021.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, right, talks with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman prior to the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2022.
(Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is doused with Gatorade by his players after the Cowboys defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2022.
(Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
Head coach Mike Gundy speaks to reporters during an Oklahoma State Spring football practice at Sherman E. Smith Training Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on March 21, 2023.
(NATHAN J FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Oklahoma State wide receiver Brennan Presley jumps into the arms of head coach Mike Gundy after a double overtime win against BYU on Nov. 25, 2023.
(Brian Bahr, Getty Images)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, left, and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian meet before the Big 12 championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 2, 2023.
(Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)
Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashod Owens and head coach Mike Gundy celebrate winning the Texas Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies on Dec. 27, 2023.
(Thomas Shea, USA TODAY Sports)
Head coach Mike Gundy talks to reporters during an Oklahoma State football practice in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on April 2, 2024.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Head coach Mike Gundy talks to reporters during an Oklahoma State football practice in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on April 23, 2024.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy stands on the sidelines during a game against Tulsa on Sept. 14, 2024.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy waves to the crowd during the Spirit Walk before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils on Nov. 2, 2024.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy stands with the cheer team after a game against UT Martin in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Aug. 28, 2025.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy walks off the field after a game against UT Martin in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Aug. 28, 2025.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, right, and Oregon head coach Dan Lanning shake hands before a game in Eugene, Oregon on Sept. 6, 2025.
(Ali Gradischer, Getty Images)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy runs on the field before a game against Tulsa at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Sept. 19, 2025.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy stands on the sidelines during a game against Tulsa at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Sept. 19, 2025.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Mike Gundy possesses the ball during the 1988 college football season.
(Malcolm Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Mike Gundy possesses the ball during the 1988 college football season.
(Malcolm Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy checks the scoreboard during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 1, 2007.
(Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy gestures on the sidelines during a game against Washington State on Aug. 30, 2008.
(Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State Cowboys coach Mike Gundy, left, and Oregon Ducks coach Mike Bellotti shake hands after the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 30, 2008.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Coach Mike Gundy, left, gives Oklahoma State University mega booster Boone Pickens a hug as President Burns Hargis and mascot Pistol Pete look on at a ribbon cutting for Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater on Sept. 5, 2009.
(DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, left, shakes hands with Georgia head coach Mark Richt after a victory at Boone Pickens Stadium on Sept. 5, 2009.
(Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, right, meets with Ole Miss head coach Houston McNutt after the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on Jan. 2, 2010. The Rebels beat the Cowboys 21-7.
(Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE, US PRESSWIRE)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, left, and Texas head coach Mack Brown speak before a game on Oct. 15, 2011.
(Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy gets the Gatorade shower by defensive ends Jamie Blatnick and Richetti Jones after the Cowboys defeated the Oklahoma Sooners on Dec. 3, 2011.
(Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert celebrates with wide receiver Justin Blackmon and head coach Mike Gundy, left, after the Cowboys won beat the Stanford Cardinal 41-38 in overtime in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2, 2012.
(Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy, right, poses for a photo with Eddie Robinson Jr. during the Eddie Robinson coach of the year award presentation on Jan. 8, 2012.
(John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy on the sidelines during the game against the Florida State Seminoles on Aug. 30, 2014.
(Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State linebacker Seth Jacobs celebrates with the defensive player of the game trophy alongside head coach Mike Gundy, right, after the Cowboys defeated the Washington Huskies in the Cactus Bowl on Jan. 2, 2015.
(Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, left, speaks with West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen after a game on Oct. 10, 2015.
(Ben Queen, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, right, and Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze meet before the Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Jan. 1, 2016.
(Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy waves to his players along with the cheerleaders following their 44-7 victory over South Alabama on Sept. 8, 2017.
(John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy reacts during a game against the Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 25, 2017.
(Rob Ferguson, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, right, and Baylor head coach Matt Rhule talk before a game on Oct. 19, 2019.
(Rob Ferguson, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, left, and Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley meet before a game on Nov. 30, 2019.
(Rob Ferguson, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy works the sidelines during a game against Boise State on Sept. 18, 2021.
(Loren Orr, Getty Images)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy walks the sidelines during the Big 12 championship game against Baylor at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 4, 2021.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, right, talks with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman prior to the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2022.
(Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is doused with Gatorade by his players after the Cowboys defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2022.
(Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Head coach Mike Gundy speaks to reporters during an Oklahoma State Spring football practice at Sherman E. Smith Training Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on March 21, 2023.
(NATHAN J FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State wide receiver Brennan Presley jumps into the arms of head coach Mike Gundy after a double overtime win against BYU on Nov. 25, 2023.
(Brian Bahr, Getty Images)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, left, and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian meet before the Big 12 championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 2, 2023.
(Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashod Owens and head coach Mike Gundy celebrate winning the Texas Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies on Dec. 27, 2023.
(Thomas Shea, USA TODAY Sports)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Head coach Mike Gundy talks to reporters during an Oklahoma State football practice in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on April 2, 2024.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Head coach Mike Gundy talks to reporters during an Oklahoma State football practice in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on April 23, 2024.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy stands on the sidelines during a game against Tulsa on Sept. 14, 2024.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy waves to the crowd during the Spirit Walk before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils on Nov. 2, 2024.
(SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy stands with the cheer team after a game against UT Martin in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Aug. 28, 2025.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy walks off the field after a game against UT Martin in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Aug. 28, 2025.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, right, and Oregon head coach Dan Lanning shake hands before a game in Eugene, Oregon on Sept. 6, 2025.
(Ali Gradischer, Getty Images)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy runs on the field before a game against Tulsa at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Sept. 19, 2025.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Mike Gundy: Oklahoma State football coach fired during 21st season
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy stands on the sidelines during a game against Tulsa at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Sept. 19, 2025.
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Dana Holgorsen, Nebraska offensive coordinator
The former Oklahoma State coordinator might not represent enough of a break from the Gundy era. Holgorsen also failed to capitalize on a 12-win season atHoustonin 2021, posting a losing record in three of his five years with the Cougars. He was also coach for eight years at West Virginia. Holgorsen almost certainly install a must-see offense that would play well in the Big 12.
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Justin Fuente
Fuente is currently out of coaching and beginning a job as a consultant with the College Football Playoff. He's also indicated no desire to get back onto the sidelines after a disappointing end to his six-year tenure at Virginia Tech that finished in 2021. But he's an Oklahoma native who would lend the program a degree of professionalism and, like others on this list, has a long background and defined success on the offensive side.
Jim Knowles, Penn State defensive coordinator
If OSU wants to lean toward a defense-minded coach instead, Knowles would be a logical call given his experience under Gundy (2018-21). Knowles recently was the coordinator for Ohio State's national champions and was hired at Penn State this past offseason. He also has head coach at experience at Cornell, where he went 26-34 from 2004-09.
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Will Stein, Oregon offensive coordinator
Stein is undoubtedly a future head coach given the success he's had across multiple starting quarterbacks at Oregon. The former Louisville quarterback has also worked at Texas, Texas-San Antonio and Lake Travis High School, one of the state's top programs. The question might not be whether Stein would be a good fit in Stillwater but whether he's a gettable target for Oklahoma State. Would he wait for a better Power Four opportunity?
Here's an interesting candidate off the NFL ranks. Robinson was a three-year starter under center for the Cowboys (2007-09) who bounced around the NFL before entering coaching in 2019. His career has skyrocketed since: Robinson went from the assistant quarterbacks coach for theLos Angeles Ramsthat season, took on the title of passing-game coordinator in 2022 and was hired by the Falcons in January of 2024. Ties to the program will get Robinson's name in the mix, but his youth and lack of any college experience are red flags.
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Tre Lamb, Tulsa
Why not hire the local coach who just beat you? Lamb, 36, is one of the youngest coaches in the Bowl Subdivision despite being a head coach since 2020, when he was hired at Gardner-Webb. That Tulsa is his first taste of this level of competition is an issue, for one, and Lamb wouldn't move the needle like other names under consideration. It would require some forward thinking from Oklahoma State to make this hire.
