In 2005, Mike Gundy could have been described as a sentimental selection as the head football coach at his alma mater.

It's now 2011 and the Oklahoma State program is reaching new heights while chiseling out an impressive list of accomplishments. And under Gundy, OSU has in place perhaps the strongest foundation in the program's history.

In 2010 alone, Gundy and Cowboys blazed new trails:

• Oklahoma State won 11 games for the first time in school history.

• Oklahoma State reached 10 wins for just the fourth time in school history and for the first time ever during the regular season.

• Oklahoma State earned a share of the Big 12 South championship for the first time ever.

• Oklahoma State led the Big 12 and set a school record with nine first-team all-conference selections.

• Three Cowboys earned first-team All-America honors, increasing OSU's total to eight first-team All-Americans over the last three seasons.

• Oklahoma State took home four of the Big 12 Conference's top individual awards. OSU had just six such awards in the history of the league prior to 2010.

• Oklahoma State reached six conference wins for just the second time in school history and for the second straight year.

• Oklahoma State was undefeated on the road for the first time since 1945.

• Oklahoma State featured the Big 12 offensive player of the year, special teams player of the year, co-defensive freshman of the year and coach of the year.

• OSU ended the 2010 season by finishing 10th in the final coaches' poll of the season. It was OSU's first top 10 finish since 1984.

OSU's list of accomplishments would be impressive in any season. The fact that they were reached in a year in which little was expected of the Cowboys only solidifies Oklahoma State's rising profile and is a testament to Gundy, who was named Big 12 coach of the year by his conference peers and the Associated Press. Gundy was also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson national coach of the year award and a finalist for the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year.

Under Gundy, Oklahoma State has won at least seven games in five straight seasons for the first time ever. Under Gundy, OSU has reached a bowl game in five straight seasons for the first time ever. Under Gundy, OSU has won at least nine games in three straight seasons for the first time ever. Under Gundy, Oklahoma State has won 29 games over a three-year period for the first time ever.

And under Gundy, Oklahoma State has reached the Associated Press top 10 in three consecutive seasons for the first time ever and in 2009 was in the AP preseason top 10 for the first time ever. Under Gundy, OSU has not only set a school record for first-team all-league selections, but also for first-team academic all-conference selections with eight (2006). Under Gundy, the future continues to look brighter than the present.

Gundy and Oklahoma State agreed on a new seven-year contract on Dec. 5, 2008. That agreement keeps the former Cowboy quarterback in charge of OSU's football fortunes through at least 2015. And it is documentation of the progress that Oklahoma State has made since the 1990 OSU grad became the school's head coach.

Gundy is 47-29 during his head coaching career, but that record hardly describes the renaissance of Cowboy football. Under his guidance, OSU's Big 12 record has improved from 1-7 in 2005 to 3-5 in 2006, 4-4 in 2007, 5-3 in 2008 and 6-2 in 2009 and 2010. During that same time period, the overall win total has climbed from four to 11.

The 2010 season continued the momentum that Oklahoma State has built under Gundy. The 11-2 campaign comes on the heels of a 2009 in which OSU was ranked in the top 25 all season, reaching as high as fifth in the AP poll during its 9-4 season. Along the way OSU set a new record for season ticket sales, and played in front of the largest home crowds in school history. OSU entered the final week of the regular season very much in contention for its first BCS bowl berth and the Cowboys' 6-2 Big 12 record propelled OSU to No. 2 in the Big 12 bowl pecking order.

In 2008, the Cowboys ascended into the top 10 for the first time in 20 years, climbed to sixth in the BCS rankings and picked up a road win against a member of the Associated Press top five.

The successes over the past three years are also a testament to Gundy's patience as a program builder. He entered his tenure as head coach with a clear-cut blueprint in mind in January of 2005 after being promoted from his position of offensive coordinator under Les Miles. His early days were often challenging and the news not always good, but the energetic former Cowboy continued to lay the groundwork for a complete OSU makeover.

The first year was tough. Oklahoma State was 4-7 with one conference win and a sixth-place finish in the Big 12 South. Gundy, however, never wavered. He faced early and difficult decisions in his head coaching career. Those challenges included the dismissal of several players, some who figured to be headliners going into the 2005 campaign. He also had to deal with the shocking death of Vernon Grant, an inspirational team leader and multi-year starter. Gundy handled the early adversity with a steady hand beyond his years. The young Cowboys spent year one in transition with a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and a new defensive coordinator.

In 2006, OSU's second year under Gundy, the record improved to 7-6, with a win in the Independence Bowl over Alabama. OSU fielded one of the country's most exciting offensive squads, displayed some talented underclassmen on defense and proved capable of bumping helmets with the elite of the Big 12. And that win total, as impressive as it was, could have been even more pronounced as four Cowboy losses were decided on the final play of the game. The season included a win over Big 12 North champ Nebraska and a last-play loss to South champ Oklahoma.

The 34-31 win over Alabama in the PetroSun Independence Bowl was OSU's fourth bowl appearance in five seasons, but marked just the second postseason win for OSU since Barry Sanders hung up his orange-colored cleats in 1988. Scoring was up by more than two touchdowns per game as the 2006 edition of Cowboy football became one of the most prolific offensive teams in school history, averaging more than 35 points per game. Oklahoma State joined undefeated Boise State as the only two teams in the country to average more than 200 yards per game rushing and passing.

OSU's 2006 roster also produced some of the Big 12's brightest stars, including the offensive newcomer of the year in first-team all-Big 12 receiver Adarius Bowman, and defensive freshman of the year in safety Andre Sexton. Bowman and offensive lineman Corey Hilliard were consensus first-team all-Big 12 selections. Bowman was Gundy's second straight offensive newcomer of the year (Mike Hamilton in 2005).

The Cowboys finished Gundy's second year seventh nationally and tops in the Big 12 in rushing, seventh nationally in scoring and No. 16 in total offense. The conference rushing title was a first for the Pokes. OSU followed up that ground attack with more team rushing titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

In 2007, despite facing the NCAA's toughest schedule, the Cowboys won their second straight bowl game (Insight) and the climb up the Big 12 ladder continued with OSU finishing third in the South. Oklahoma State entered the final week of the regular season playing for a share of the Big 12 South championship. The bowl titles marked the first time since 1987 and 1988 (Gundy's playing days) that the Cowboys won postseason games in consecutive seasons. The Cowboys' 45-14 win at Nebraska was OSU's first in Lincoln since the Kennedy Administration.

The Cowboy offense followed up its 2006 success with something unprecedented in 2007 when it finished the season with 3,161 rushing yards and 3,161 passing yards. OSU finished seventh nationally in total offense (486.3 yards per game). The season culminated with a 49-33 win over Indiana in the Insight Bowl and sophomore quarterback Zac Robinson set a new OSU single-season record in total offense (since broken by Brandon Weeden).

The 2008 season drew headlines. That version of the Cowboys became one of the most decorated in school history. Two sophomores, receiver Dez Bryant and running back Kendall Hunter, became first-team All-Americans. Quarterback Zac Robinson was a finalist for the Manning Award and a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew was a finalist for the Mackey Award and punter Matt Fodge was the winner of the Ray Guy Award. Junior Perrish Cox was voted a first-team All-America kick returner.

As a team, the Cowboys went 9-4 for just the eighth nine-win season in school history. OSU appeared in a bowl game for a third straight season for just the third time ever. The 2008 Cowboys, with Gundy calling the plays, were the second highest scoring team in school history at more than 40 points per game.

It was a season that saw OSU enter the polls on Sept. 28 and camp out in the rankings for the rest of the year. Oklahoma State climbed as high as No. 7 in the AP balloting. Along the way came a win at No. 3 Missouri and a four-point near miss at No. 1 Texas. The season ended in San Diego with OSU's first trip to the Holiday Bowl since 1988.

OSU also set a then new record for season ticket sales with 39,976. Oklahoma State saw a climb in average attendance to 48,261 per game and along the way set a then-single-game attendance record (52,463 vs. Troy). Robinson became the school's career total offense record holder, surpassing the mark of his head coach. The Cowboy offense finished sixth nationally with 488 yards per game. Along the way, OSU set a new school record with four straight games of more than 50 points and finished the year No. 16 in the Associated Press poll.

The 2008 breakthrough season was followed by another nine-win season in 2009, which ended with a trip to the AT&T Cotton Bowl. It was OSU's first trip to the Dallas bowl since 2004 and third overall. The season saw OSU set five more new records for single-game attendance, culminating with a record 58,516 on hand for the Texas game. The record for season tickets was elevated to 45,694. Along the way, Zac Robinson continued to smash records, including career marks for passing yards, TD passes and single-game completion percentage. Mike Gundy had held all three records. The Cowboy defense showed stunning improvement, rising from 93rd in total defense to No. 31. Oklahoma State also set a school record with 11 television appearances.

The year saw two Cowboys, offensive lineman Russell Okung and receiver Dez Bryant, selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Okung, a unanimous All-American and the Big 12 offensive lineman of the year, was the sixth overall pick.

The 2009 season opener, a 24-10 win over No. 13 Georgia, was a watershed event at Oklahoma State with the rededication of Boone Pickens Stadium. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held two hours before OSU's win over the Bulldogs.

And the individual awards continued. Along with Okung, Keith Toston, Perrish Cox and Bryant Ward were first-team all-Big 12 selections. Cox also joined Okung as a first-team All-American.

Oklahoma State defied the odds in 2010 with the loss of two first-round draft picks, an experienced offensive line and perhaps the most accomplished quarterback in school history. Instead of taking the predicted swoon, the Cowboys skyrocketed to third nationally in total offense with 520 yards per game, finished third in the NCAA with 44.2 points per game and climbed to 11-2. Along the way, Weeden set the school single-season records for total offense, passing yards and touchdown passes. Justin Blackmon became a unanimous All-American, the winner of the Biletnikoff Award and became the first receiver to be named Big 12 offensive player of the year. Hunter became a two-time All-American, and the Cowboys had two of the nation's best specialists. Placekicker Dan Bailey was the Big 12 special teams player of the year and the winner of the Lou Groza Award. Punter Quinn Sharp was a first-team All-American.

Gundy's hiring as the school's 22nd head football coach on Jan. 3, 2005, was the culmination of a legendary career for one of Oklahoma's all-time great high school athletes.

Mike Gundy first arrived on the Oklahoma State campus in 1986 after a heavily-decorated prep career. He was an Oklahoma all-state selection in football and baseball and was selected as the state's prep football player of the year by The Oklahoman and the Tulsa World. At the same time, he was a stellar student and a member of the National Honor Society.

As a senior, he led Midwest City High School to a state championship, including a dramatic come-from-behind win in the title game held on the OSU campus. Along the way, he completed 63 percent of his passes for nearly 1,800 yards while calling many of his own plays at the line of scrimmage.

After a heavyweight recruiting battle that centered on the state's two largest schools, Gundy cast his lot with Oklahoma State and prepared to redshirt his freshman season. But just four games into his true freshman season, he took over the quarterback duties for Pat Jones' Oklahoma State Cowboys. He ended 1986 by being named as the nation's top freshman quarterback by The Sporting News. He became a four-year starter at Oklahoma State (1986-89), and led the Cowboys to a pair of bowl wins, the 1987 Sun Bowl over West Virginia and the 1988 Holiday Bowl over Wyoming. During those two seasons, OSU accumulated a 20-4 record. Gundy was voted into the Hall of Fame of the Holiday Bowl for his efforts in San Diego when he completed 20-of-24 passes for 314 yards. He is also a member of OSU's Hall of Fame.

The 1988 offense is the most prolific in OSU history, scoring more than 47 points per game. It was led by the trio of Mike Gundy, Barry Sanders and Hart Lee Dykes. Gundy ended his career as the Big Eight Conference's all-time leader in passing and total offense, and he is still second all-time at OSU with 7,997 passing yards. He is also second at OSU in total offense and third in career touchdown passes (54). He passed for 2,106 yards in 1987 and 2,163 in 1988. He began his college career by throwing 138 passes before tossing his first career interception. That streak remained an NCAA record until 2008.

After graduation, Gundy joined the Oklahoma State football staff. He coached the receivers in 1990, the quarterbacks from 1991-1993 and in 1995, and served as offensive coordinator during the 1994 season in the final year for Gundy's college coach, Pat Jones. Gundy has coached in Stillwater under each of the three previous Cowboy head coaches (Jones, Bob Simmons and Les Miles).

He spent one season at Baylor (1996) as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator before heading to the ACC, where he coached at Maryland (1997-2000). He returned to Stillwater in 2001 as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, and he also coached OSU quarterbacks.

Gundy is just the third Oklahoma State graduate to assume the head coaching duties in Stillwater. Jim Lookabaugh (1939-49) and Floyd Gass (1969-71) were the others.

Gundy and his wife, Kristen (also an OSU graduate), have three children, Gavin, Gunnar and Gage. The Gundys announced a financial gift to OSU in the spring of 2011 to endow the quarterback position at Oklahoma State

Gundy As A Head Coach

* Independence Bowl
# Insight Bowl
^ Holiday Bowl
! Cotton Bowl
% Alamo Bowl
& Fiesta Bowl