Gundy deal passes board

TULSA – It was all but done until Friday afternoon.

The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents approved Mike Gundy’s five-year contract extension on Friday. Gundy signed the deal Monday, but the approval from the board makes it official. Gundy will make $4.2 million in 2017, a $300,000 raise, and receive an annual rollover of $125,000.

OSU President Burns Hargis, who was in attendance at the meeting, said the new contract is one step closer to ensuring Gundy retires at OSU.

“I think that’s the plan,” Hargis said. “We hope. That’s a long time off, but that’s how it’s set up.”

The discussion of Gundy’s extension has been going on for a while. Last summer, the Board of Regents approved a two-year extension totaling $8.3 million that would keep him through 2021. Gundy, however, held off on signing. He was rumored a potential candidate for the Baylor coaching vacancy, though the Bears eventually hired Matt Rhule.

Amidst this, Gundy preached his loyalty to the Cowboys. Although some questioned his commitment, the signing of this extension leaves no doubt to the veracity of his word. Hargis said the length of the process was because the two parties wanted to work out a contract they could both be happy with.

“We just had discussion back and forth,” Hargis said. “There wasn’t any rush. There was still time left on his existing contract, but we knew we wanted to get something done before that contract expired. It was just time it all came together.”

Although there were reports of benefactor Boone Pickens being involved in the negotiations, Hargis said that was not the case.

“He wasn’t involved,” Hargis said. “He’s supportive. He understands the situation.”

The raise makes Gundy the third-highest paid coach in the Big 12, behind Texas’ Tom Herman ($5.25 million) and TCU’s Gary Patterson ($4.7 million). Oklahoma Bob Stoops was the highest paid coach in the conference before his retirement a week ago. New Sooners coach Lincoln Riley’s contract details have not been made public.

Hargis said the goal was to put Gundy among the top coaches in the conference because of the success he has had at OSU. Gundy, Hargis and athletic director Mike Holder have been together for nine seasons – the second-longest for an FBS trio behind Michigan State. In those nine seasons, OSU has won 86 games. Entering his 13th season as coach, Gundy is the winningest coach in program history with a record of 104-50.

Hargis said though there were times of contention, that is expected with contract negotiations. He is happy that it eventually worked out.

“At the end of the day, all three of us – coach Gundy, Mike Holder and I are Cowboys,” Hargis said. “That’s family.”