NORMAN, Oklahoma — Kyle Gandy has spent most of his life in Oklahoma as a player or coach.
For the past 24 seasons, Gandy has been a regular in the Czech football program.
This continuity does not extend to 25.
Sunday night, OU wide receiver coach unexpectedly announced his resignation Make a statement on Twitter.
In a lengthy statement, Gandy explained the circumstances that led to the decision.
Gandy said at a film conference last week that he noticed a player was distracted.
“(I) picked up his iPad and read aloud what was written on the screen,” Gandy said in the statement. “The text shown had nothing to do with football. That screen showed a word that I should never have – under any circumstances – uttered. At that moment, I didn’t even realize what I was reading, when I realized , I was terrified.
“I want to be very clear: the words I read aloud from that screen were not mine. I didn’t say it maliciously; it wasn’t even intentional. Still, I’m mature enough to know that what I said was shameful and hurtful, Whatever my intentions were. The unfortunate reality is that someone like me can inadvertently cause harm. A person of character would accept responsibility in this situation. I take responsibility for my mistakes. I apologize.”
Gundy came to OU from Midwest City in 1990, and after his brother Mike played quarterback at Oklahoma State, he decided to forge his own path.
From 1990 to 1993, Cale Gundy was the Sooners quarterback, throwing for over 6,000 yards and 35 touchdowns.
His 1,914 passing yards in 1992 set an OU single-season record at the time. Gandy surpassed it the next season with 2,311 yards.
Gundy’s career 6,686 passing yards was also an OU career record until Josh Heupel broke it in 1999-2000. Gundy still ranks sixth on OU’s career passing list.
After working as a graduate assistant in 1994, Gandy left OU to coach quarterback and then run back at Alabama-Birmingham.
After the 1998 season, when Bob Stoops was hired as the Sooners’ head coach, Stoops hired Gundy to coach the running backs.
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Gandy has built a reputation as one of the nation’s strongest recruiters and has been instrumental in positions under the leadership of Stoops and Lincoln Riley.
In 2015, Gandy was transferred to the inside and wide receiver coach.
Under Brent Venables, Gandy was in charge of all wide receivers.
“I regret to accept Coach Gandy’s resignation,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said in a statement. “He has dedicated more than half of his life to Oklahoma State football and has served our program and college well. We appreciate that commitment. We also acknowledge that when he steps down, he will The program and the well-being of our student-athletes come first. We are all accountable for our actions and the results that result, both in coaching and in life.
“The culture we have built in the program is built on mutual respect. Our staff is here to develop successful student-athletes, but also young people of character. As leaders in the program, we must uphold the highest standards , because we shape our players the type of man we want them to be.”
Sooners offensive analyst L’Damian Washington will serve as interim wide receiver coach, Venables said.
Washington is a former Missouri football player who has spent time in the NFL. He started his coaching career in the 2019-20 season as a middle school coach.
In December’s Alamo Bowl win over Oregon, Gundy’s final game with the Sooners proved to be Gundy’s first during his tenure at the OU, as Stoops temporarily returned to the sidelines.
