Gundy taking his time
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is weighing all of his options as the Cowboys search for a new defensive coordinator.
STILLWATER — It’s been nearly a week since the announcement came out that Glenn Spencer would not be retained as Oklahoma State’s defensive coordinator, and even longer since coach Mike Gundy determined he’d be in the market for a new coach to lead his defense.
The final signing period is three weeks away, and the Cowboys are recruiting to fill two spots, both on the defensive side of the ball — ideally, one on the line and one at linebacker.
Yet Gundy doesn’t appear to be in a panic to hire a new defensive coordinator, letting the coaches on staff handle the recruitment of players for the final two spots.
The Cowboys have yet to take advantage of the new NCAA rule allowing the addition of a 10th fulltime assistant coach, but that hire likely won’t be made until after a defensive coordinator is found — if for no other reason than it could be a valuable part of the offer to a prospective coach, knowing he’ll be able to bring in one of his own guys to help.
Still, Gundy says he won’t rush to find his next defensive coordinator. Gundy hasn’t spoken to the media since the Camping World Bowl on Dec. 28, but he told OSU radio sideline reporter Robert Allen of GoPokes.com last week that he isn’t letting the recruiting timetable pressure him into making a quick hire.
Sources have said Gundy would like to nudge the defense toward more heavy use of a three-man front, which could take some options off the table.
Of course, Gundy proved with his Mike Yurcich hire five years ago that he doesn’t hold himself to traditional hiring methods, so the field of candidates could include several names no one is considering at this point.
With the task of being a defensive coordinator in the Big 12 as stout as it is, some serious experience and proven success running a defense or preparing for a Big 12 opponent should be of high value in Gundy’s search.
Spencer was earning $675,000 per year, so money shouldn’t be a significant issue in luring a worthy candidate.
While the list of candidates is much longer than this, here are a few potential options for Gundy:
Stay in-house: Could Joe Bob Clements be ready for his first coordinator gig? Is analyst Brian VanGorder the guy Gundy wants to hand the defense to? Clements comes from a Kansas State background, and the Wildcats have played some good defense over the years. Clements has recruited well and developed his players as OSU’s defensive line coach. VanGorder has only been in Stillwater for one season, but he’s been a defensive coordinator in the NFL and the SEC, along with a stop at Notre Dame and a head coaching stint at Georgia Southern.
Chad Glasgow, TCU defensive coordinator: Glasgow, a former OSU player and graduate assistant, recently turned down the SMU defensive coordinator job. GoPokes.com reported that he is expected to get an interview. He’s spent several years coaching under TCU defensive whiz Gary Patterson, but at the same time, Patterson is the one who runs the defense.
Jon Heacock, Iowa State defensive coordinator: If you want someone who knows what it takes to game plan for Big 12 offenses, Heacock better be high on your list. In theory, with Oklahoma State’s sustained run of success as a program under Gundy — as opposed to Iowa State’s explosion from bottomd weller to top 25 this past season — OSU should be an easier place to recruit defensive talent.
Matt Entz, North Dakota State defensive coordinator: Every list of potential OSU coordinator hires has to include a non-FBS guy, right? Well, here’s a strong one. Entz has had one of the best defenses in FCS since taking over as coordinator at North Dakota State in 2014. This past season, his squad led the FCS in total defense and was second in take-aways with 36 in 15 games while winning the national title.
Jason Jones, Ole Miss co-defensive coordinator: The former OSU defensive backs coach has been sharing defensive coordinator duties at Ole Miss, along with coaching the secondary. An SEC guy by birth — he’s from Tuscaloosa, Alabama — he might like being close to home. But he might like the idea of having sole control of a defense, too.
Van Malone, former SMU defensive coordinator: Malone was left without a job when Arkansas hired Chad Morris away from SMU, and Morris decided to hire a new defensive coordinator. But he was well respected in his time as an OSU assistant, and would have a lot more talent to work with in Stillwater.