Coach Gundy, Wife Donate to Endow OSU QB Scholarship

Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy and wife Kristen donated nearly $167,000 to endow a scholarship for the quarterback position on the Cowboy football team.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:20 pm

By: News On 6

Coach Gundy, Wife Donate to Endow OSU QB Scholarship

Originally Published: Apr 12, 2011 8:47 AM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

STILLWATER, Okla.-- Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and his wife, Kristen, have announced a gift to endow a scholarship for the Cowboys' quarterback position.

The University announced the Gundy’s scholarship donation of $166,667 Monday to endow the quarterback position on the OSU football team.

“This university means a great deal to our family. This endowed scholarship is one way we can say thank you to OSU for our education and underscore our belief that our players are athletes second and students first,” said Coach Gundy.

The gift qualifies for a 2:1 match from the Pickens Legacy Scholarship Match program established by OSU alumnus T. Boone Pickens and pushes the total impact of the gift to $500,000.

Officials say the match pushes the total impact of the gift to $500,000, which will annually produce $25,000 for tuition, fees, books and living expenses for OSU quarterbacks.

The donation will produce an annual $25,000 to pay for tuition, fees, books and living expenses for OSU quarterbacks.

Officials say the student-athlete scholarship endowment campaign has surpassed the $40 million mark toward a goal of raising $115 million to endow all 229 athletic positions in 18 men and women sports.

Both Mike and Kristen Gundy graduated from Oklahoma State and continue to give back to their alma mater.

“We received a wonderful education here and today we both count it a big honor for me to coach at OSU and for our family to live in Stillwater,” said Gundy.

Gundy was a four year starter at the quarterback position at OSU from 1986-89. He returned to Oklahoma State in 2005 to become the head coach for the Cowboys.

Last season, Coach Gundy led the Cowboys to a school-record 11 wins as well as a school-record fifth straight bowl game appearance which resulted in a 36-10 win over the University of Arizona in the Alamo Bowl.

“As I said the day I was appointed head coach at OSU, ‘This is my New York Yankees job.’ Yes, athletics are indeed important to every major university; but academics are truly most important,” said Gundy.

“As OSU’s President, I am especially pleased with Coach Gundy’s emphasis on graduating his players. Coach is right when he says his players are students first. I personally appreciate his commitment to graduate his players. There is no stronger leadership than leading by example. We appreciate the example Mike and Kristen have set with their scholarship gift,” said V. Burns Hargis, OSU’s President.

Coach Gundy and the Cowboys continue spring practice this week which will culminate Saturday at the annual Orange/White Spring Game April 16 at 2 p.m.