OK State AD Mike Holder amends criticism of Mike Gundy with criticism of himself
Oklahoma State AD Mike Holder stepped in it last week when he said Mike Gundy should recruit harder in a podcast with Pistols Firing.
“I’d want to finish higher in those recruiting rankings than we consistently do. I think that ultimately puts a ceiling on what you’re able to achieve," he said.
“We do a great job of overcoming that with Rob Glass down in the weight room, and I think our coaches do a great job of disciplining and motivating and channeling what talent we have in the right direction. I just think we would be better served with a few more James Washington’s coming in the front door. You know, he came in as a two-star or three-star and left a five-star. We need to take some of those five-stars and turn them into seven-stars, which I think Rob Glass could do, and I think Mike Gundy could as well.
“I’m patting them on the back at the same time I’m challenging them to get out there and do a little bit more recruiting. Recruiting’s the most important thing we do, and you’re only as good as your athletes.”
In an interview with the Tulsa World Wednesday, Holder walked back his comments significantly.
“What I should have been doing is encouraging me, as the athletic director, to do a better job of getting the message out that this is a great place to get an education and further your dreams as an athlete, not just in football but across the spectrum of every sport that we offer here,” Holder told the paper. “And challenge myself to do a better job of that. That's what I regret.”
Oklahoma State preemptively put an end to the controversy last week when regents approved a 3-year contract extension worth $950,000 annually for Holder.
