Mike Gundy’s Final Locker Room Message Surfaces as Son’s Emotional Words Reveal Family Sacrifice

The heartbreak of staying away from what you cherish, just to let it thrive, hits different. That’s what former Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy must be feeling. Back in July, he said, “I’m so far along in my career, I get it. And then ultimately, if somebody says, ‘Hey, you know what? We need to change at Oklahoma State coaching-wise,’ then I’ll go coach somewhere else.” However, hardly did Mike expect Oklahoma State to actually pull the trigger for the head coach who kept the program tight for 21 seasons. He was fired on Tuesday, September 23, in the afternoon. 

CFB analyst RJ Young had made a bold projection: “$25 million doesn’t sound like a whole lot when we talk about firing people now because we’ve seen people fire for way more, but it’s still a lot for a place like Oklahoma State.” But looks like Oklahoma State was suffering from a dilemma to fire Mike, and it has never been about the money. He has been the Cowboys’ all-time winningest coach, posting a 169-88 record during his time in Stillwater. At the same time, they have seen the worst in 2024, after wrapping the season with a 3-9 record. But now that he is gone, his heart still beats for his Cowboys. 

On September 24, Oklahoma State beat writer McClain Baxley tweeted with the caption, “Former #OKState head coach Mike Gundy visited with the Cowboys after practice Tuesday. Here’s what he told the team, per Kenyatta Wright.” The post read, “Mike came in after practice and talked to our guys, the staff, all the guys in the West End Zone and he told everybody after practice ‘You look this adversity in the eye. You keep the course. Stay the course and you continue to fight and beat Baylor’s a–.’ That’s what it’s about. He’s going to always cheer for Oklahoma State and hope Oklahoma State does great, but at the end of the day, the message to our kids was to finish the task.”

Oklahoma State got rid of its two-decade-old connection with Mike in one go. But the head coach’s heart still holds a big place for his Cowboys. As Chris Low reported that the head coach was not able to tell his players that his time is over at Oklahoma State, he went back to the practice camp to boost the players one last time. Mike’s final message? The job isn’t done. He came with the vocal tonic, telling the team to stay locked in and go win their upcoming game against Baylor.

After all, Mike knows the feeling of being an Oklahoma State player even before he savored the head coaching experience. He played as the quarterback in the Cowboys squad in the 1980s before transitioning into coaching shortly after his playing days. Mike’s coaching success then followed as he led the program to a Big 12 Championship in 2011 and consistent bowl appearances. The 2013 season saw OSU reach its highest ranking ever, finishing 5th in the final polls. But the program’s patience ran low after his tattered team slumped to 1–2 on the season and 4–11 since the end of 2023. But his son, Gavin Gundy, still sees his dad as his icon.  

Gavin Gundy reflects on the unseen toll of Mike Gundy

When his dad joined Oklahoma State in 1986, Gavin had not even been born. Unlike his other siblings, quarterbacks Gunnar and Gage, Mike’s firstborn has pursued baseball. But so what? Growing up seeing dad Mike’s dedication to the football program is what gave birth to his respect both for the sport and his father. Now that the Gundy family fights through one of the toughest times, the proud son came with a heartfelt post.  

It started with, “It’s been a long couple [of] hours since the news that my dad, Mike Gundy, is no longer the head coach at Oklahoma State. Even saying that out loud still doesn’t feel real. For my entire life, he’s been the face of Cowboy football — the constant presence on the sideline, the voice in the locker room, and the man who turned OSU into a program that always mattered.” Mike’s son then highlighted the milestones that his dad had hit in Oklahoma State. 18 consecutive bowl appearances from 2006–2023, eight 10-win seasons, two 12-win seasons, 10 ranked finishes, and 5 Top-15 finishes. And the list continues. And was it a smooth ride for Mike?

Definitely not. He had to pour in his blood, sweat, and tears to steer the program to its golden times. As Gavin acknowledged his father’s hard work. “But the legacy goes far beyond numbers. I saw the sacrifice up close — the holidays missed, the family moments that had to wait, the pressure he carried year after year, all because he loved OSU enough to give it everything he had. I saw thousands of players leave his program as better men because he demanded toughness, loyalty, and accountability from them. That impact will outlast the records,” wrote Mike’s proud son. 

But they now have to accept the fate. Meanwhile, the Cowboys might be searching for answers to find out who is going to take Mike’s seat. A few names like Barry Odom and Dana Holgorsen have been floating. But analyst Richard Johnson said, “I think that the name to note, I think, is Zac Robinson because I think how Zac Robinson’s candidacy, so to speak, for this job goes, I think will kind of show you a little bit of where the wind is blowing with who’s kind of steering the ship here.” 

The Atlanta Falcons‘ offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson, has some strong ties with Oklahoma State. He played as the quarterback from 2005 to 2009 under Mike Gundy. After two decades under Gundy, OSU’s ready for its next chapter. Who’s writing it?