Despite experiencing their worst season since 2005, Oklahoma State football is gearing up for a significant rebound in 2025. Head Coach Mike Gundy is regaining control and is determined to lead the OSU Cowboys back to victory. Their initial step involved making significant moves in the transfer portal, followed by revamping their coaching staff to incorporate fresh talent.
Oklahoma State Finalizes Its 2025 Coaching Staff
The Gundy Dynasty Lives On
It’s clear that, much like Oklahoma’s Brent Venables, Gundy holds considerable influence over his team. He has shaped nearly every aspect of Oklahoma State football over the last two decades. From top to bottom, this program is undeniably a reflection of his vision.
This legacy will continue even after Gundy eventually steps down, as his son, Gunnar Gundy, is taking on one of the vacant coaching roles this spring. Gunnar made a significant impact as a quarterback during his time at Emporia State in 2024, throwing for over 2,700 yards, 23 touchdowns, and achieving a 64.4% completion rate. He has chosen to forgo his final year of eligibility to become the quality control coach for quarterbacks, likely working closely with incoming TCU transfer Hauss Hejny.
Offensive Coaches for Oklahoma State Football
If Gunnar aims to advance further in his coaching career, he’ll need to forge his own path. Doug Meacham and Oklahoma Sooners quarterbacks coach Kevin Johns are joining the team to lead the offense, both bringing a wealth of experience.
Meacham is familiar to OSU fans and staff; he was a Cowboys player in the 80s and later coached tight ends and receivers at OSU from 2005 to 2012. He spent the last few years at TCU, where he played a pivotal role in establishing one of the top offenses in the nation. Now, as the offensive coordinator for Oklahoma State, he aims to replicate that success.
While Johns’ brief stint with the Sooners in 2024 raises some concerns, his contributions to Duke football’s rise as a powerhouse should not be overlooked. He was instrumental in coaching Riley Leonard to All-ACC honors, and if he can achieve similar results with Hejny, good outcomes are expected for Oklahoma State in 2025.
Defensive Coaches for Oklahoma State Football
To rectify what was the nation’s worst defense last year, Gundy is bringing in seasoned professionals. Todd Grantham will assume the role of defensive coordinator, with Kap Dede as the linebackers coach and Ryan Osborn overseeing the defensive line.
Grantham comes to the Big 12 with extensive experience from the NFL, SEC, and ACC, having most recently worked with the New Orleans Saints. He’s also had stints under Nick Saban at Alabama and served as Florida’s defensive coordinator from 2018-2020.
Dede, hailing from Western Kentucky, has a lot to prove. While WKU’s overall defense was ranked 96th last year, Dede’s guidance of the linebackers resulted in the 11th best ranking nationally for passing yards allowed. He’s also coached at Long Island, Charlotte, and Colorado State.
Osborn joins after a successful tenure with Charlotte, where his team ranked 16th nationally in red zone defense—a significant improvement area historically for OSU. Osborn also has NFL experience, having worked with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 and 2023.
Last Word on Oklahoma State’s 2025 Coaching Staff
It’s astonishing that Oklahoma State, coming off one of their worst seasons in decades, is poised for a major comeback. Despite their previous struggles, the Cowboys are setting the groundwork to emerge as a strong contender in the Big 12.
This resilience is characteristic of Oklahoma State; they often thrive as underdogs even at their peak. After hitting rock bottom, they’re now aiming to rise among the elite teams in the conference. Whether it was due to a significant loss to Colorado or near coaching changes, a shift is unmistakable this year.
The big question remains: Can Oklahoma State finally capture that elusive Big 12 Championship? We likely won’t find out until they face Oregon on September 6th. Until then, stay tuned each week for the latest updates on Oklahoma State football from Last Word On Sports.
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