Joel Klatt reacts to Oklahoma State firing Mike Gundy: 'I don't love it'

Oklahoma State announced on Tuesday that it would be parting ways with head coach Mike Gundy after 21 seasons. The Cowboys didn’t win a Big 12 game in 2024 and opened the 2025 season 1-2, including an embarrassing 69-3 loss to Oregon and a home loss to Tulsa.

Gundy, who played quarterback at Oklahoma State from 1986-1989, became the winningest coach in program history. His 170 wins are 108 more than Pat Jones, the second winningest coach in program history (62 wins). However, it’s been a rough go lately as the Cowboys had won just four of their last 15 games played since the beginning of the 2024 season.

FOX Sports‘ Joel Klatt touched on Gundy’s firing on Wednesday’s edition of ‘The Joel Klatt Show‘. Klatt revealed that he wasn’t quite a fan of the move.

“I think that this is a bummer man,” Klatt said. “This guy is the all-time winningest coach at Oklahoma State by over 100 games and he’s let go before October. I just don’t love it. I don’t love it. I know that there were things going on behind the scenes and there were some disagreements and so on and so forth. But, ugly side of college football. I don’t love it. Coach, I just want you to know man that I respect you and will always think highly of you.”

Gundy was let go after 21 seasons in Stillwater

Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season, and athletics director Chad Weiberg will lead the search for a full-time replacement.

“Cowboy Football reached an unprecedented level of success and national prominence under Coach Gundy’s leadership,” Weiberg said in a statement. “I believe I speak for OSU fans everywhere when I say that we are grateful for all he did to raise the standard and show us all what is possible for Oklahoma State football.”

During an appearance on SportsCenter following the move, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum weighed in on Oklahoma State’s decision to part ways with the legendary head coach.

“He’s a Hall-of-Fame coach, but it needed to be done,” Finebaum said. “When things spiral out of control, losing the other night at home to Tulsa, that was the final blow. Just like with UCLA and just like with other schools. The problem when you do it this soon, you potentially lose your roster. But, I’m not sure there’s that much to lose out there.”

“So, I think the school said, ‘We need to make a clean break. There’s no easy way to fire someone as legendary as him.’ I agree with the school for making [the decision] now.”