This may end up feeling like one of those strange moments in sports when it looks as if a program has traded away its most recognizable figure. If Mike Gundy ends up going to Denton, it will feel almost like Oklahoma State sent a program legend down the road as part of some unexpected exchange. It would be surprising for almost any coach in America, but Gundy has never operated on everyone else’s wavelength. He is already a College Football Hall of Fame lock. His 170 wins in Stillwater guarantee that. There is nothing left for him to accomplish on paper, yet he has always been wired for challenge, confrontation and the next mountain.
That is why this odd pairing makes sense. Gundy has spent two decades turning Oklahoma State into a national fixture, but he has also never shied away from reinvention. North Texas would give him something he has not had in years. A fresh canvas. A new fight. A place where he could shape the entire operation in his image, from the meeting rooms to the culture to the style of play. And if he took the job, you can bet he would pick up the phone and try to get Oklahoma State on the schedule, because stirring the pot is part of what makes him who he is.
Other candidates
Pat Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald, the former Northwestern coach, is someone who likely would not have been attainable for North Texas in past cycles, but like Gundy he may be looking for the right path back into the profession. His Big Ten résumé and developmental success would immediately elevate the search.
Kendal Briles
Briles has been TCU’s offensive coordinator since 2023 and previously held OC roles at FAU, Florida State, Houston and Arkansas after departing Baylor in 2016. This could be the most convenient hire on the board since he already resides in the DFW metroplex and knows the region as well as anyone.
Graham Harrell
Harrell was born in Texas and had success at North Texas as offensive coordinator from 2016 to 2018 before moving on to coordinator roles at USC, Purdue, West Virginia and now Abilene Christian. His track record with high-powered offenses and his deep familiarity with UNT make him one of the most natural fits on the board.
Kirby Moore
Moore is one of the rising coordinators in the country and currently serves as Missouri’s offensive coordinator, where he has enhanced his reputation as a strong quarterback developer. Honestly, he might be out of their price range but certainly one of the most intriguing coaches available.
Bill Clark
Clark has given indications that he would be open to returning to coaching, and North Texas may make more sense for that comeback than a return to UAB. He built UAB from nothing and would bring instant credibility and toughness to Denton.
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Willie Taggart
Taggart has experience across the map and has rebuilt programs before, even if his recent stops have been uneven. The appeal here would be stability and someone who may not be looking to jump to a bigger job right away, giving North Texas a steadier long-term option.
Garrett Riley and Collin Klein
Riley at Clemson and Klein at Texas A&M are both future head coaches, but their current salaries likely exceed what North Texas can realistically offer, even though their names will be thrown around on social media. For UNT to land either one, the pitch would need to center on Denton being a true stepping stone to a College Football Playoff bid, and the Mean Green are now in a position where that selling point carries real weight.
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