After a 3-9 finish to the 2024 season, change is coming to Oklahoma State football.
On Wednesday afternoon, Action Network reported the firings of offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn after five seasons and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo after two seasons. The move comes less than one week removed from a season-ending 52-0 loss to Colorado at Folsom Field, marking OSU’s first losing season since 2005. It also marked the first time in 30 years where the Cowboys have gone winless (0-9) in Big 12 play.
The Cowboys had their worst five-year offensive stretch in total offense and scoring offense under head coach Mike Gundy since Dunn’s promotion from wide receivers coach to offensive coordinator ahead of the 2020 season.
OSU’s defense this season was also the worst during Gundy’s tenure.
Here are some potential replacement options for Dunn and Nardo:
Potential offensive coordinators
Mike Yurcich, former OSU offensive coordinator
OSU fans have advocated for change. But why steer clear of something that worked well?
Yurcich served as OSU’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2013-18, producing Mason Rudolph, James Washington, Tylan Wallce, Justice Hill and others. The Cowboys averaged at least 38 points per game and ranked in the top 20 nationally in total offense each year under Yurcich, with the exception of 2014.
He was fired as Penn State’s OC midseason in 2023, so he’s available if Gundy is willing to bring him back.
Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator
This one might be far-fetched, but it’s not impossible.
Robinson, a former OSU quarterback from 2006-09, has remained a beloved figure in OSU football lore. He led the Cowboys to consecutive nine-win seasons from 2008-09 and played as a backup quarterback in the NFL for 2010-13.
He is in his first season as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator. Through 12 games, the Falcons are eighth in the NFL in total offense and are averaging 22.5 points.
Robinson, 38, is widely considered one of the rising stars in the NFL coaching ranks — including by his former head coach, Gundy.
Many might wonder how Gundy could steer his former pupil away from the NFL. And the most logical answer would be a head-coach-in-waiting position tethered to his hypothetical offensive coordinator role. After all, Gundy is 57. Who knows how much longer he will want to be a head coach?
Dirk Koetter, Boise State offensive coordinator
This one might not be as popular, simply due to Koetter’s age (65), but it’s worth a shot.
Koetter is in his first season as Boise State’s full-time offensive coordinator after serving as the school’s interim OC for the second half of the 2022 season. The Broncos are fifth nationally in total offense (478.2 yards per game) and third in scoring offense (40.6 points per game).
And not to mention, he’s helped likely Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman Trophy candidate running back Ashton Jeanty’s surge.
If you’re Gundy, why not give Koetter an opportunity?
Jordan Davis, North Texas offensive coordinator
OSU’s best offensive years came from air-raid specialists Dana Holgorsen, Todd Monken and Yurcich. Davis fits that mold.
In his second season as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at North Texas, he’s brought immense success on the offensive end.
This season, the Mean Green rank third in total offense (488.7 yards per game) and 26th in scoring offense (34.1 points per game) In 2023, UNT ranked sixth in total offense (495.8 yards per game) and 20th in scoring offense (34.5 points per game).
Davis, 32, is an up-and-coming coach, so why not revisit the air-raid?
Mack Leftwich, Texas State offensive coordinator
Leftwich, 30, and in his second season as Texas State’s offensive coordinator, is another young, up-and-coming name in the college football coaching realm.
This season, the Bobcats are sixth in total offense (474.3 yards per game) and 11th in scoring offense (37.2 points per game). Plus, Leftwich has coached Heisman Trophy candidate/Miami quarterback Cam Ward, TJ Finley and Jordan McCloud currently.
Potential defensive coordinators
Brian Smith, Rice defensive coordinator
Smith, 45, recently finished his seventh season as Rice’s defensive coordinator.
Smith coaches a 3-4 defense, somewhat similar to Nardo’s 3-3-5 scheme, but it’s notably different from a secondary standpoint.
This season, the Owls ranked 36th in total defense and 73rd in total defense, though, allowing 25.42 points per game.
Nick Benedetto, Northern Illinois defensive coordinator
Benedetto’s unique 4-2-5 scheme has given even the most efficient offenses in college football fits. Most recently, that led to upsetting Notre Dame this season and another against Boston College last season.
The Huskies rank sixth this season in total defense and 15th in scoring defense, allowing 18.42 points per game, and have shown steady improvement during each of Benedetto’s seasons as defensive coordinator.
Geoff Collins, North Carolina defensive coordinator
Collins is nearing the end of his first season as North Carolina’s defensive coordinator. But with head coach Mack Brown’s recent firing, Collins might be looking for a new job if he isn’t retained by the next coach.
Collins, 53, led the Tar Heels to a notable improvement this season in contrast to their overall production in 2022. Carolina ranked 76th in total defense this season but improved steadily throughout the season.
Collins also spent four seasons (2019-22) as Georgia Tech’s head coach. And while the Yellow Jackets failed to make a bowl game under his leadership, they recruited well, which could bode well for OSU should it hire him.
Before that, Collins served as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator from 2011-14 and Florida’s defensive coordinator from 2015-16.
Steve Morrison, Bowling Green defensive coordinator
Morrison, 52, has a plethora of experience in college coaching.
In his second season as Bowling Green’s defensive coordinator — and sixth total on staff — the Falcons ranked 29th in total defense and 24th in scoring defense, allowing 20.25 points per game. Notably, Morrison’s defense gave Penn State fits in Happy Valley before doing the same to Texas A&M in College Station one week later. Last season, he took Minnesota to the wire in the Quick Lane Bowl.
Paul Randolph, OSU defensive line coach
This wouldn’t be an out-of-house hire, but who says one is necessary?
Randolph has 27 years of coaching experience and has been commended by Gundy on a multitude of occasions for his old-school, hard-nosed coaching philosophy.
He recently finished his first season as OSU’s defensive line coach but has also held prominent roles at Indiana, Texas Tech, Memphis, Tulsa, Rice and Alabama.
He’s well liked by defensive players, so why not give Randolph a shot?
sports.ed@ocolly.com
