By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer | 0 comments
Photo gallery: A look at the coaching career of Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State
STILLWATER — When Mike Gundy looks at his Oklahoma State support staff, he sees decades of experience and stability.
“I can leave here for a week and this thing runs itself,” he said. “Everybody knows what to do, and I don’t get in anybody’s way. I let everybody do what they think is best.”
People like strength-and-conditioning director Rob Glass (11 years at OSU), strength-and-conditioning coach Gary Calcagno (16 years at OSU), head coach assistant Danielle Clary (a football office employee since 2006), director of football operations Mack Butler (who returned to Stillwater in 2009), director of recruiting Johnny Barr (also a Gundy aide since 2009), media relations director Gavin Lang (at OSU since 2007), equipment coordinator Wes Edwards (hired by Gundy in 2005) and equipment manager Matt “Chief” Davis (involved in Cowboy football for 19 years) keep it all running smoothly.
As for Gundy, who is entering his 11th season as head coach at OSU, he is one of only 14 FBS coaches with a run of at least 10 years at his school. There are 128 head coaches in FBS.
A University of Tulsa defensive assistant coach during the ’90s, Butler was Les Miles’ OSU director of operations in 2001-04. After Miles departed for LSU, Butler was on the Tiger staff for four years.
“After the 2008 season, I got a call from someone who said, ‘Mike wants you to come back to Oklahoma State. He needs you,’ I’m an Oklahoma guy. I came back,” Butler said. “My job description? Travel, logistics, lodging, meals and summer camps, among other things.
“I think coach Gundy understands the loyalty of the people working for him. I don’t want him to worry about the buses being on time or whether the grass is mowed.”
When asked about the value of continuity in the Cowboy program, OSU athletic director Mike Holder replied, “I don’t think you can quantify how important it is. Look at the programs that have long-term success, and it starts with stability in the staff.
“It helps in Mike Gundy’s case that he has seen the Oklahoma State athletic department operate from three perspectives — that of an athlete, an assistant coach and a head coach. That’s pretty unique.”
At 76 FBS schools, the head football coach has no more than three years of experience in his program. When a coach is fired and another is hired, it usually results in new people occupying support roles.
“There’s a real risk with changing the guard,” Gundy said. “Boy, there’s a lot of work when you start changing coaches and changing staffs. There’s no substitute for experience in football. Playing veteran players — guys who have been there. In (coaching and support jobs), it may be even more valuable.
“There are so many moving parts in these big-time operations now. This game is so different than it was (only) six or seven years ago, with how you handle recruiting, academics, strength and conditioning, the technology, food, walk-ons, cost-of-living checks, personnel, coaching changes, salary increases and bonuses. It’s just so different.”
Gundy expresses a high level of respect for Glass, a Newkirk native and a former OSU baseball player. In 1986-88, when Gundy was an Oklahoma State quarterback, Glass was a graduate assistant on the Cowboys staff. After working in 1989-95 as OSU’s head strength coach, Glass joined the Florida staff and ultimately became the Gators’ director of strength and conditioning for seven years.
Gundy became OSU’s head football coach in January 2005, and among his top priorities was to recruit Glass back to Stillwater.
Glass, Gundy said last week, “controls everything in this organization now. It’s hard to run a program without a guy in his position who can do what he can do.”
In 1976-98 and 2001-09, Joyce Robbins was OSU’s head coach assistant. She worked with Jim Stanley, Jimmy Johnson, Pat Jones, Bob Simmons, Miles and Gundy. After having worked in the football office for four years, Clary succeeded Robbins in 2010.
“Danielle — if she leaves, I’m in trouble,” Gundy said. “She does everything.”
Clary says she attempts to shield Gundy from trivial distractions.
“It’s about consistency and having people who can anticipate needs before the coaches or players can point them out,” Clary said. “As Mack Butler says, ‘There are no fires.’ It’s about loyalty and reliability. It allows coach Gundy to go and do things without anything falling to pieces while he’s gone.”
Photo gallery: A look at the coaching career of Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State
STILLWATER — When Mike Gundy looks at his Oklahoma State support staff, he sees decades of experience and stability.
“I can leave here for a week and this thing runs itself,” he said. “Everybody knows what to do, and I don’t get in anybody’s way. I let everybody do what they think is best.”
People like strength-and-conditioning director Rob Glass (11 years at OSU), strength-and-conditioning coach Gary Calcagno (16 years at OSU), head coach assistant Danielle Clary (a football office employee since 2006), director of football operations Mack Butler (who returned to Stillwater in 2009), director of recruiting Johnny Barr (also a Gundy aide since 2009), media relations director Gavin Lang (at OSU since 2007), equipment coordinator Wes Edwards (hired by Gundy in 2005) and equipment manager Matt “Chief” Davis (involved in Cowboy football for 19 years) keep it all running smoothly.
As for Gundy, who is entering his 11th season as head coach at OSU, he is one of only 14 FBS coaches with a run of at least 10 years at his school. There are 128 head coaches in FBS.
A University of Tulsa defensive assistant coach during the ’90s, Butler was Les Miles’ OSU director of operations in 2001-04. After Miles departed for LSU, Butler was on the Tiger staff for four years.
“After the 2008 season, I got a call from someone who said, ‘Mike wants you to come back to Oklahoma State. He needs you,’ I’m an Oklahoma guy. I came back,” Butler said. “My job description? Travel, logistics, lodging, meals and summer camps, among other things.
“I think coach Gundy understands the loyalty of the people working for him. I don’t want him to worry about the buses being on time or whether the grass is mowed.”
When asked about the value of continuity in the Cowboy program, OSU athletic director Mike Holder replied, “I don’t think you can quantify how important it is. Look at the programs that have long-term success, and it starts with stability in the staff.
“It helps in Mike Gundy’s case that he has seen the Oklahoma State athletic department operate from three perspectives — that of an athlete, an assistant coach and a head coach. That’s pretty unique.”
At 76 FBS schools, the head football coach has no more than three years of experience in his program. When a coach is fired and another is hired, it usually results in new people occupying support roles.
“There’s a real risk with changing the guard,” Gundy said. “Boy, there’s a lot of work when you start changing coaches and changing staffs. There’s no substitute for experience in football. Playing veteran players — guys who have been there. In (coaching and support jobs), it may be even more valuable.
“There are so many moving parts in these big-time operations now. This game is so different than it was (only) six or seven years ago, with how you handle recruiting, academics, strength and conditioning, the technology, food, walk-ons, cost-of-living checks, personnel, coaching changes, salary increases and bonuses. It’s just so different.”
Gundy expresses a high level of respect for Glass, a Newkirk native and a former OSU baseball player. In 1986-88, when Gundy was an Oklahoma State quarterback, Glass was a graduate assistant on the Cowboys staff. After working in 1989-95 as OSU’s head strength coach, Glass joined the Florida staff and ultimately became the Gators’ director of strength and conditioning for seven years.
Gundy became OSU’s head football coach in January 2005, and among his top priorities was to recruit Glass back to Stillwater.
Glass, Gundy said last week, “controls everything in this organization now. It’s hard to run a program without a guy in his position who can do what he can do.”
In 1976-98 and 2001-09, Joyce Robbins was OSU’s head coach assistant. She worked with Jim Stanley, Jimmy Johnson, Pat Jones, Bob Simmons, Miles and Gundy. After having worked in the football office for four years, Clary succeeded Robbins in 2010.
“Danielle — if she leaves, I’m in trouble,” Gundy said. “She does everything.”
Clary says she attempts to shield Gundy from trivial distractions.
“It’s about consistency and having people who can anticipate needs before the coaches or players can point them out,” Clary said. “As Mack Butler says, ‘There are no fires.’ It’s about loyalty and reliability. It allows coach Gundy to go and do things without anything falling to pieces while he’s gone.”
