Weiberg Lands Morris to Lead Oklahoma State Football — Cowboys Begin New Era After Two Decades of Gundy

Chad Weiberg took a moment to glance across the room. 

To soak in the moment. To read the room. And to grasp the reality that for the first time in more than two decades, Oklahoma State was introducing a new football coach. 

Then, Weiberg, OSU’s fifth-year athletic director, spoke. 

“This has not happened here in over 20 years,” Weiberg said. “Like most things, much has changed in college football in that 20 years. And so for all of those reasons, this was a very important decision for the future of Cowboy football, OSU athletics and Oklahoma State University.”

For 21 seasons, Mike Gundy roamed the home sidelines of Boone Pickens Stadium. Gundy led OSU to nonpareil heights, which include but are not limited to eight 10-win seasons, a Big 12 Championship and 18 straight bowl game appearances until he was fired in September after a 1-2 start. 

Which made the necessity for Weiberg to make a splash hire even higher. And in turn, he opted for Eric Morris from North Texas. 

But therein lies the question lingering in the minds of all present for Morris’ introductory press conference Monday at the Conoco Phillips Alumni Center — why him?

“He was someone that was at the top of our list really early on,” Weiberg said. “I (have) talked about how you establish the bar. You're seeing if anybody crossed the bar. He established himself as a bar to be crossed pretty early on.

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“He’s a winner.”

First, there’s his pedigree as a program builder. It took Morris four seasons to transform an unknown, San Antonio-based Catholic school in Incarnate Word into a consistent FCS playoff contender. It took him only three to guide North Texas to a 11-win season and an appearance in the American Conference Championship game.

He did so with the art of evaluation and finding hidden gems, specifically quarterbacks. Which correlates with Weiberg’s second checkbox — projection and development. 

At Incarnate Word, Morris discovered eventual first-round NFL draft pick Cam Ward. His most recent, and perhaps most absurd find is redshirt freshman and former walk-on, Drew Mestemaker, who didn’t start a varsity game at quarterback in high school, will now almost certainly be a hot commodity in the transfer portal this offseason. After one season in Morris’ offensive scheme, Mestemaker leads college football in passing yards (4,129) and ranks second in passing touchdowns (31).

OSU public address announcer Larry Reece might have said it best: “Coach Morris is known as the quarterback whisperer. 

To which Morris joked with the audience, “Hey guys, don’t be mad if I sign a three-star quarterback.”

But statistics often aren’t a farce. Wherever Morris has gone, offensive efficiency and quarterback play have reached a mountaintop. 

“Obviously, this program has been built on offense, scoring a lot of points and those kinds of things,” Weiberg said. “And so that lined up on a line (for us).”

The OSU marching band, baton twirlers, cheerleaders and mascot Pistol Pete were among the large crowd that packed the OSU Alumni Center in Stillwater for new head football coach Eric Morris' introductory press conference Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. The event drew students, alumni, boosters and fans eager to welcome Morris as the Cowboys' first new head coach in over 20 years. – Photos by Chris Peters

And lastly, there’s the fit. 

Weiberg and OSU president Jim Hess said they admired Morris’ decision to stick with North Texas and coach the team in its conference championship. The two cited integrity as the focal point of his decision. Staying committed to the players who did the same for him over a one- to three-year span. 

Similarly to how Gundy prioritized loyalty and rewarded players who confided in that commitment.

“We wanted someone who could transform our program to the next level, but at the same time, keep our culture intact,” Hess said. “So, there was a set of criteria that (Weiberg) and I talked about — character, the ability to interact with young people and develop human beings, not just as players.

“(Morris) checks off all of those boxes.”

But Weiberg wasn’t looking for a replica of Gundy. He was looking for someone with similar qualities and who would be innovative and willing to adapt to the modern realm of the sport.

Gundy built OSU football. As Weiberg said, Gundy is OSU football. Or was. 

Now, it’s Morris’ turn to take the reins from the Cowboys’ all-time winningest coach. To bring winning football back to what was once one of college football’s staples of consistency and guide OSU back to atop the Big 12. 

A swift turnaround from a 1-11 to bowl eligibility might seem like a daunting task, but in the modern age of college football, it’s doable. While the Cowboys are two years removed from their most recent bowl appearance, perhaps a roster overhaul through the transfer portal might be their best chance at a quick turnaround.

Weiberg said OSU’s athletic department plans to allocate substantial funds — in comparison to years past — toward the football program. The money will be there to contend for conference championships and beyond. So, it’s up to Morris to make Weiberg’s gamble pan out. And if anything, Weiberg said, he finds solace in the likelihood of that coming into fruition. 

“I knew there were other schools that had an interest in (Morris),” Weiberg said. “Maybe it was beyond interest. But what I appreciated about him is that he made it very clear that he felt that this was the best fit for him as well."