:List of Oklahoma State Cowboys head football coaches

File:Mike Gundy 1.jpg|alt=A man wearing sunglasses and a gray suit with a patterned red tie looking over his right shoulder]]

The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program is a college football team that represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater. The team has had 23 head coaches since organized football began in 1901 with the nickname Aggies. The team played without a head coach until 1905. The university, then known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, was renamed Oklahoma State University in 1957 and its nickname was changed to Cowboys. The Cowboys have played in more than 1,000 games during their 122 seasons. In those seasons, eight coaches have led the Cowboys to postseason bowl games: Jim Lookabaugh, Cliff Speegle, Jim Stanley, Jimmy Johnson, Pat Jones, Bob Simmons, Les Miles and Mike Gundy. Six coaches have won conference championships with the Cowboys: John Maulbetsch, Lynn Waldorf, Lookabaugh, {{nowrap|Jennings B. Whitworth}}, Stanley, and Gundy. Lookabaugh also won a national championship with the Cowboys.

Gundy is the all-time leader in games coached (245), wins (166) and years coached (19), while Waldorf is the all-time leader in winning percentage (.735). Theodore Cox finished his career with a .250 winning percentage, the worst in team history. Of the 23 Cowboy coaches, Maulbetsch, Waldorf, Exendine, and Johnson have been inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame. Three coaches are also graduates of the university: Lookabaugh, Floyd Gass, and Gundy. The first coach was F. A. McCoy, who coached only one season, in 1905. The current coach, Mike Gundy, was hired in January 2005.

Key

class="wikitable"

|+General

align="center" | #

| Number of coaches{{#tag:ref|A running total of the number of coaches of the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Thus, any coach who has two or more separate terms as head coach is counted only once.|group="A"}}

CCs

| Conference championships{{#tag:ref|Oklahoma State did not join a conference until 1915.|group="A"}}

NCs

| National championships

bgcolor=#FFE6BD align="center" | †

| Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame

class="wikitable"

|+ Overall games

| Games coached

| Wins

| Losses

| Ties{{#tag:ref|Overtime rules in college football were introduced in 1996, making ties impossible in the period since.|group="A"}}

align="center" | O%

| Winning percentage{{#tag:ref|When computing the win–loss percentage, a tie counts as half a win and half a loss.|group="A"}}

class="wikitable"

|+ Conference games

|Wins

| Losses

| Ties

| Winning percentage

class="wikitable"

|+ Postseason games

| Wins

| Losses

| Ties

Head coaches

:Statistics correct as of the end of the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season

class="wikitable sortable sticky-header-multi" style="font-size: 85%; width:90%;"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Oklahoma State Cowboys

|Picture

|Name

|Term

|GC

|OW

|OL

|OT

|O%

|CW

|CL

|CT

|C%

|PW

|PL

|PT

|CCs

|NCs

|class="unsortable"| National awards}}

align="center" | 1

| align="center" | {{Sortname|F. A.|McCoy }}

| align="center" | 1905

| align="center" | 7

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 4

| align="center" | {{nts|2}}

| align="center" | {{Winning percentage|1|4|2}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 2

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Boyd|Hill}}

| align="center" | 1906–1907

| align="center" | 15

| align="center" | 2

| align="center" | 9

| align="center" | {{nts|4}}

| align="center" | {{Winning percentage|2|9|4}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 3

|80px

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Ed|Parry}}

| align="center" | 1908

| align="center" | 8

| align="center" | 4

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{Winning percentage|4|4}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 4

|80px

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Paul J.|Davis}}

| align="center" | 1909–1914

| align="center" | 45

| align="center" | 28

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{Winning percentage|28|16|1}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 5

|80px

| align="center" | {{Sortname|John G.|Griffith}}

| align="center" | 1915–1916

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 8

| align="center" | 9

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | .472

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|6}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|0|6}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 6

|80px

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Earl A.|Pritchard}}

| align="center" | 1917–1918

| align="center" | 15

| align="center" | 8

| align="center" | 7

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | .533

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|4}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|1|4}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 7

|80px

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Jim|Pixlee}}

| align="center" | 1919–1920

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | 3

| align="center" | 10

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| align="center" | .281

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|5}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|0|5}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 8

|80px

| align="center" bgcolor=#FFE6BD |{{Sortname|John|Maulbetsch}}^†

| align="center" | 1921–1928

| align="center" | 70

| align="center" | 27

| align="center" | 37

| align="center" | {{nts|6}}

| align="center" | .429

| align="center" | {{nts|10}}

| align="center" | {{nts|13}}

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|10|13|3}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 9

|80px

| align="center" bgcolor=#FFE6BD | {{Sortname|Pappy|Waldorf| Pappy Waldorf}}^†

| align="center" | 1929–1933

| align="center" | 51

| align="center" | 34

| align="center" | 10

| align="center" | {{nts|7}}

| align="center" | .735

| align="center" | {{nts|9}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|9|1}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 10

|80px

| align="center" bgcolor=#FFE6BD | {{Sortname|Albert|Exendine}}^†

| align="center" | 1934–1935

| align="center" | 20

| align="center" | 7

| align="center" | 12

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | .375

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|4}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|1|4}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 11

|80px

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Ted|Cox|Ted Cox (American football)}}

| align="center" | 1936–1938

| align="center" | 30

| align="center" | 7

| align="center" | 23

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | .233

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| align="center" | {{nts|8}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|3|8}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 12

|80px

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Jim|Lookabaugh}}

| align="center" | 1939–1949

| align="center" | 105

| align="center" | 58

| align="center" | 41

| align="center" | {{nts|6}}

| align="center" | .581

| align="center" | {{nts|19}}

| align="center" | {{nts|10}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|19|10|1}}}}

| align="center" | {{nts|2}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| 1–1945

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 13

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Jennings B.|Whitworth}}

| align="center" | 1950–1954

| align="center" | 51

| align="center" | 22

| align="center" | 27

| align="center" | {{nts|2}}

| align="center" | .451

| align="center" | {{nts|11}}

| align="center" | {{nts|9}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|11|9|1}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 14

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Cliff|Speegle}}

| align="center" | 1955–1962

| align="center" | 81

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 42

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| align="center" | .463

| align="center" | {{nts|9}}

| align="center" | {{nts|19}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|9|19|1}}}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 15

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Phil|Cutchin}}

| align="center" | 1963–1968

| align="center" | 59

| align="center" | 19

| align="center" | 38

| align="center" | {{nts|2}}

| align="center" | .339

| align="center" | {{nts|14}}

| align="center" | {{nts|26}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|14|26|1}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 16

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Floyd|Gass}}

| align="center" | 1969–1971

| align="center" | 32

| align="center" | 13

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | .422

| align="center" | {{nts|7}}

| align="center" | {{nts|14}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|7|14}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

| {{ntsh|999}}1969 Big 8 Coach of the Year{{cite news |url=http://newsok.com/floyd-gass/article/2934146 |title=Floyd Gass – Obituaries/Death Notices |author= |work=NewsOk.com |date=March 6, 2006 |accessdate=August 23, 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105900/http://newsok.com/floyd-gass/article/2934146 |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}

align="center" | 17

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Dave|Smith|Dave Smith (American football coach)}}

| align="center" | 1972

| align="center" | 11

| align="center" | 7

| align="center" | 4

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | .636

| align="center" | {{nts|4}}

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|4|3}}}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 18

|80px

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Jim|Stanley|Jim Stanley (American football)}}

| align="center" | 1973–1978

| align="center" | 68

| align="center" | 35

| align="center" | 31

| align="center" | {{nts|2}}

| align="center" | .529

| align="center" | {{nts|19}}

| align="center" | {{nts|21}}

| align="center" | {{nts|2}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|19|21|2}}}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 19

|80px

| align="center" bgcolor=#FFE6BD | {{Sortname|Jimmy|Johnson|Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)}}^†

| align="center" | 1979–1983

| align="center" | 57

| align="center" | 29

| align="center" | 25

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| align="center" | .535

| align="center" | {{nts|18}}

| align="center" | {{nts|15}}

| align="center" | {{nts|2}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|18|15|2}}}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 20

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Pat|Jones|Pat Jones (American football)}}

| align="center" | 1984–1994

| align="center" | 125

| align="center" | 62

| align="center" | 60

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| align="center" | .508

| align="center" | {{nts|30}}

| align="center" | {{nts|44}}

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|30|44|3}}}}

| align="center" | {{nts|3}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 21

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Bob|Simmons|Bob Simmons (American football coach)}}

| align="center" | 1995–2000

| align="center" | 68

| align="center" | 30

| align="center" | 38

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | .441

| align="center" | {{nts|16}}

| align="center" | {{nts|31}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|16|31}}}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|0}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

|{{nowrap|Big 12 Coach of the Year (1997)}}

align="center" | 22

|80px

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Les|Miles}}

| align="center" | 2001–2004

| align="center" | 49

| align="center" | 28

| align="center" | 21

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

| align="center" | .571

| align="center" | {{nts|16}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

| align="center" | {{nts|{{winperc|16|16}}}}

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{nts|2}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

align="center" | 23

|80px

| align="center" | {{Sortname|Mike|Gundy}}

| align="center" | 2005–present

| align="center" | {{nts|257}}

| align="center" | {{nts|169}}

| align="center" | {{nts|88}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

| align="center" | {{Winning percentage|169|88}}

| align="center" | {{nts|102}}

| align="center" | {{nts|72}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

| align="center" | {{nts|{{Winning percentage|102|72}}}}

| align="center" | {{nts|12}}

| align="center" | {{nts|6}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

| align="center" | {{nts|1}}

| align="center" | {{ntsh|999}}—

{{nowrap|Big 12 Coach of the Year (2010, 2021, 2023){{Cite web |date=2023-11-29 |title=Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy named Big 12 Coach of the Year |url=https://www.fox23.com/sports/oklahoma-state-coach-mike-gundy-named-big-12-coach-of-the-year/article_7f047c8a-8efb-11ee-8a85-37ab36c3501c.html |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=www.fox23.com |language=en}}}}

{{nowrap|Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (2011){{Cite web |date=2012-01-20 |title=Gundy wins Bryant Award as top college coach |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/7481924/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}}}

{{nowrap|Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award (2011){{Cite web |date=2011-12-15 |title=Okla. St.'s Gundy wins Eddie Robinson Award |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/7357027/mike-gundy-oklahoma-state-cowboys-wins-eddie-robinson-award-top-coach |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}}}

Notes

References

;General

{{cite web |author= |title=2021 Oklahoma State Football Media Guide |url=https://okstate.com/documents/2021/7/20/2021_Oklahoma_State_Football_Guide.pdf |publisher=Oklahoma State University Athletics |date=2021 |page=206 |access-date=August 11, 2021 |archive-date=August 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811003004/https://okstate.com/documents/2021/7/20/2021_Oklahoma_State_Football_Guide.pdf |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|title=Oklahoma State Coaching Records |publisher=College Football Data Warehouse |access-date=November 24, 2009 |url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/oklahoma_state/coaching_records.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216023342/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/oklahoma_state/coaching_records.php |archive-date=February 16, 2010 }}

;Specific

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite news|title=Fatal attraction: Oklahoma and football |newspaper=The New York Times |first=William |last=Rhoden |date=August 6, 1989 |access-date=January 18, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/06/sports/college-football-fatal-attraction-oklahoma-and-football.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170049/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/06/sports/college-football-fatal-attraction-oklahoma-and-football.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web|title=Mike Gundy – Profile |publisher=OKState.com |access-date=January 19, 2009 |url=http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/gundy_mike00.html |quote=Gundy is just the third Oklahoma State graduate to assume the head coaching duties in Stillwater. Jim Lookabaugh (1939–49) and Floyd Gass (1969–71) were the others. |archive-date=January 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106130004/http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/gundy_mike00.html |url-status=dead }}

{{cite news|title=Big plays help Paterno to 200th |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Chuck |last=Finder |date=September 6, 1987 |access-date=October 22, 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/06/sports/college-football-big-plays-help-paterno-to-200th.html |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928072614/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/06/sports/college-football-big-plays-help-paterno-to-200th.html |url-status=dead }}

{{cite news|first=Kelly |last=Whiteside |title=Overtime system still excites coaches |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-08-24-overtime_x.htm |work=USA Today |date=August 25, 2006 |access-date=September 25, 2009 |archive-date=September 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906111441/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-08-24-overtime_x.htm |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |title=OSU History |date=June 14, 2006 |publisher=Oklahoma State University–Stillwater |url=http://osu.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=280&Itemid=96 |access-date=December 10, 2009 |archive-date=May 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527185533/http://osu.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=280&Itemid=96 |url-status=dead }}

{{cite news|title=Battle of backcourts in East Rutherford |agency=The Associated Press |publisher=NBC Sports |date=March 27, 2004 |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/4611262/ |access-date=December 10, 2009 |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006213230/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/4611262/ |url-status=dead }}

{{cite news|title=Gundy to fill Miles' shoes at Oklahoma State |newspaper=USA Today |agency=The Associated Press |date=January 3, 2005 |access-date=November 25, 2009 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/big12/2005-01-03-oklastate-gundy_x.htm?POE=SPOISVA |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025211758/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/big12/2005-01-03-oklastate-gundy_x.htm?POE=SPOISVA |quote=Oklahoma State promoted offensive coordinator Mike Gundy to head coach Monday... |url-status=dead }}

{{cite news|title=Willingham shakes up staff at Washington |newspaper=USA Today |date=December 18, 2007 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2007-12-17-washington-staff_N.htm |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=January 25, 2010 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604012629/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2007-12-17-washington-staff_N.htm |url-status=dead }}

}}

Category:Lists of college football head coaches

Category:Oklahoma sports-related lists