Mike Gundy has spent the last 13 years at Oklahoma State, but Tennessee is hoping to bring the charismatic football coach to Knoxville.
According to Jimmy Hyams of WNML, the school’s search for a coach has focused on Gundy because Duke’s David Cutcliffe and Iowa State’s Matt Campbell are no longer options. Hyams said Tennessee has interviewed Gundy for the position.
The administration thought it had secured a new coach in Greg Schiano, who is currently the defensive coordinator at Ohio State. However, backlash within the fan base led Tennessee to move on from Schiano, extending the search despite the school already missing on several top options.
Along with Cutcliffe and Campbell, Chip Kelly picked UCLA and Dan Mullen went to Florida. As a result, Gundy is at least worth contacting.
That’s not to say he’s hardly a worthy candidate. No, Gundy would be an absolute steal for the Volunteers.
Over the last 10 seasons, Oklahoma State has earned nine-plus victories in eight years. Thanks to a 9-3 record in 2017, the program is headed to its 12th consecutive bowl.
While it seems unlikely Gundy would leave his alma mater and a location that seems to fit his style, Tennessee is wise to interview him. The worst he can do is say no, and several other options have told the Vols the same thing anyway. The opposite answer, however, could turn around the program.