Mike Gundy's long tenure at Oklahoma State has hit a snag, with changes sweeping through the coaching staff of the OSU football program. Confirmations from sources to The Oklahoman reveal the university has dismissed offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo after a disappointing season that bottomed out with a 52-0 loss at Colorado.
Following up a 10-win season with a 3-9 record this year, Oklahoma State's football leadership decided it was time for a shift. Dunn had a role in the Cowboys' offensive strategies for 14 seasons, but his unit never cracked the top 20 in scoring, total, or rushing offense during his tenure as offensive coordinator, as reported by FOX 25 News.
Nardo's defensive squad, on the other hand, plunged in his second season to 126th in the FBS in scoring defense, and notably poor in total defense, per information from ESPN.
The Oklahoma A&M Colleges Board of Regents has scheduled a special meeting prior to their regular session, stirring speculation about further changes to come. With the Board not typically involved in staff matters unless it concerns head coach positions, Mike Gundy's role may also be under scrutiny, despite no official comments to that effect.
Dunn's departure comes with a $1 million buyout and Nardo's with $700,000, a sizeable expense for the university but perhaps a necessary one for the football program to find new footing. "There ain't no way that the old lady is letting me retire, if that's what you're asking me," Gundy previously said, as recalled by ESPN, maintaining a façade of enthusiasm in the face of mounting losses and this seismic shift within the program he has shaped for over two decades. Despite the rough season, and the ultimate clear out of his coordinators, Gundy appeared determined to hold on to his place at OSU.
