Agent, OSU officials negotiate on possible new contract for Gundy
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, December 11, 2011
12/11/11 at 6:26 AM
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Memphis, Tenn.-based agent Jimmy Sexton, who also represents Alabama coach Nick Saban and Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, has begun the process of attempting to negotiate a new contract for Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy.
A little more than a week ago, the Cowboys defeated Oklahoma 44-10 to cap their first 11-win regular season. OSU secured its first Big 12 championship and first berth in a Bowl Championship Series game.
In the Fiesta Bowl, set for Jan. 2 in Glendale, Ariz., the Cowboys are matched with Stanford. OSU is No. 3 in the BCS standings. The Cardinal is No. 4.
During a Saturday telephone conversation, Gundy would not comment on the record but did acknowledge that he is represented by Sexton. It is not known whether OSU donor T. Boone Pickens or athletic director Mike Holder is the primary contact of Sexton and his assistant.
"As we said we would do a few weeks ago, now that the season is over we are reviewing coach Gundy's contract," Gary Shutt, OSU's director of communications, said in a statement released to the Tulsa World. "We also have begun discussions with his representative.
"A new contract - reflecting the success we have enjoyed the past three years and expect to continue for years to come - is being discussed. We are striving to have a new, long-term contract for coach Gundy in place soon."
"In that regard," Shutt continued, "we will not discuss specific details at this time, as it is our practice to refrain from negotiating contracts in the media. We will announce the details of the contract when it is completed."
Four years remain on a seven-year, $15.7 million contract signed by Gundy in 2009. His current salary is $2.1 million - far less than the $5.1 million paid to Texas' Mack Brown this season and the $4.875 million paid to Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, and also less than the annual sum of $2.5 million reportedly paid to new Kansas coach Charlie Weis. At Arkansas, Bobby Petrino currently makes $3.56 million.
Gundy has not divulged what he is seeking monetarily, but it is believed that OSU's seventh-year coach may ask for a contract of at least 10 years. In December 2009, after only one season at Oklahoma State, men's basketball coach Travis Ford was given a new contract - a 10-year, $20.375 million deal.
Since the start of the 2008 season, the Gundy-coached Cowboys are 40-11 overall and 25-8 in the Big 12. In each of the last four seasons, OSU has achieved a national top-10 ranking.
At 44, Gundy is the youngest head coach in the Big 12. Since he became the head man, the program has flourished. For a home game in 2005, OSU generated about $1.2 million in ticket revenue. In 2010, average home-game revenue was about $2.7 million. This year, OSU reported in October, the home-game average was $3.2 million.
This season, Oklahoma State set school records for season-ticket sales (48,710) and average attendance (57,229).
Original Print Headline: Gundy's contract under review
Bill Haisten 918-581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Since the start of the 2008 season, the Mike Gundy-coached Cowboys are 40-11 overall and 25-8 in the Big 12. JEFF LAUTENBERGER/Tulsa World
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