Will Gundy seek longevity with next offensive coordinator?
In his last news conference before Monday’s Liberty Bowl, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy spoke highly of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and the continuity he brought to Gundy’s offense over six seasons.
Six years with the same play-caller, same gameplanner, same quarterbacks coach.
In the eight years before Gundy plucked Yurcich out of the Division II ranks in Pennsylvania, four different coaches filled some or all of those roles.
Gundy’s words on the day before Yurcich’s final game on the Cowboys’ coaching staff could give a hint into what Gundy is seeking as he fills his offensive coordinator role.
“We went and got (Yurcich) because I felt like if we had gone and gotten a name guy, in two years, he would’ve left again because that is what was happening to us,” Gundy said on Sunday. “We bring a guy in, we average 50 points a game and the guy leaves.
“I was tired of dealing with that, so I said, ‘Surely they won’t want a guy from Shippensburg for a few years.’ Maybe he’s here with us next year and maybe he’s not, but either way, we’ll go get another one and keep going.”
Of course, about 36 hours after he said that, reports began to surface that Yurcich was on his way to Ohio State, so the time has come for Gundy to go get another one and keep going.
He doesn’t have to rush. Nearly all of the offensive recruiting class signed last month, with the exception of a spot or two.
But he can’t wait too long, because the coaching carousel is picking up speed as bowl games finish up.
Gundy has pointed out a couple of times over the last year that he feels the program has broadened its reach far enough that he should be able to fill the vast majority of his coaching vacancies with people who once played or coached at OSU.
Gundy didn’t stick to that philosophy when he hired defensive coordinator Jim Knowles last year, but even if Gundy wants someone who has been tied to his program, he’s going to have plenty of options as he settles on his next play-caller.
If continuity is truly what Gundy wants, his best options are likely already on staff. Offensive line coach Josh Henson has been an offensive coordinator before, and is committed to being in Stillwater. Receivers coach Kasey Dunn doesn’t have the coordinator experience, but has been at OSU for eight seasons and has planted roots as well.
Should Gundy look outside the program, he’ll have big names, including some who have been his offensive coordinator before: Todd Monken and Larry Fedora are on the market.
But in most cases, judging the desire of other coaches to stay at OSU for a longer period isn’t so easy.
Other names will surface. Gundy has to decide how much value he wants to put on the continuity Yurcich provided.
“When you make a change, you’re changing a lot,” Gundy said. “Unless you’re in a program where you have really, really, really good players, it’s difficult to make a wholesale change as a coordinator or head coach and then start showing up within the first couple years. The assistant coaches, they play a big role in this.”