OSU Approves Gundy's Contract Through 2013

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy had a one-year contract extension unanimously approved Friday by the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents, extending his deal through 2013.

Friday, December 7th 2007, 2:33 pm

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy had a one-year contract extension unanimously approved Friday by the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents, extending his deal through 2013. The contract extension was the second in less than a year for Gundy. In March, Gundy received a two-year extension through 2012 that would pay him $953,000 annually.

The motion approved by regents, who met at Oklahoma State's Oklahoma City campus, allows interim university President Marlene Strathe to extend the contract a year, but no new contract details have been negotiated at this point, university spokesman Gary Shutt said.

Regents did not comment on the vote during the meeting. Gundy, who spent much of the week recruiting before returning to Stillwater on Friday afternoon, did not attend the meeting.

``I'm just happy that we're able to continue the relationship. I think it's a great opportunity for our staff,'' Gundy said. ``It's important to continue to do that for the stability for a lot of reasons. First off, I think it helps you a lot in recruiting. The continuity you have amongst your staff is always good.''

Gundy, a 40-year-old former Oklahoma State quarterback, is 17-19 in three seasons, including a 6-6 mark this season. The Cowboys will play Indiana in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 31 in Tempe, Ariz., their second bowl appearance during Gundy's tenure.

Oklahoma State beat Alabama in last year's Independence Bowl and finished 7-6.

``I think it's important for everybody to know that we're taking a long-term perspective on football,'' Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder said. ``It takes time to build a competitive team in a conference as competitive as the Big 12. I think we're patient. We've shown that, and we're committed for the long term.

``As I said earlier, I see progress. Really, that's what inspires you.''

Incoming Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis said earlier this week that he supports Gundy.

``I think Mike Gundy is taking a very deliberate approach to building a quality football program,'' Hargis said Tuesday, shortly after being chosen as the university's 18th president. ``He's doing it honestly. In this day and age ... it just takes time.''

Hargis called Gundy ``a quality human being'' and ``the kind of role model you want for your students.''

Gundy gained national notoriety earlier this season for a rant directed at an Oklahoma City newspaper columnist. He used his entire postgame news conference following a Sept. 22 win over Texas Tech to address what he considered unfair criticism of benched quarterback Bobby Reid.

The rant, punctuated by an outburst of ``Come after me! I'm a man! I'm 40!'' became the topic of national conversation and a staple of the online video-sharing site YouTube.