With a new era underway in Stillwater, Oklahoma State football is turning the page - and it’s not just on the field. A full overhaul of the coaching staff and front office under new head coach Eric Morris comes with a fresh slate of contracts, incentives, and a clear message: continuity matters, but so does starting from scratch.
Morris, who made the move from North Texas, brought much of his staff with him, signaling a commitment to familiarity in a sport where change is constant. But he’s not taking anything for granted.
“I always think continuity in this sport is huge,” Morris said last week. “It was really important for me to be able to bring the coaching staff over and you pick up where you left off.
The biggest challenge for the coaching staff now and something that I've harped with those guys is we can't assume. We have to start with a blank slate and assume no one in your meeting room knows anything.
That can be a little hectic.”
That “blank slate” mindset is reflected in the structure of the new contracts, which were approved by the Board of Regents on January 30. The deals, obtained through a FOIA request, lay out not just salaries, but a tiered system of performance incentives that reward success on multiple levels.
Every assistant and coordinator has postseason bonuses baked into their contracts. A Big 12 Championship Game win earns a $10,000 bonus.
A Top 10 finish in the final polls adds $5,000. Even a finish between 11-15 ($3,000) or 16-25 ($2,000) brings a reward.
And if the Cowboys break into the College Football Playoff? There are incentives for that too - a clear signal that expectations are high, and the program is aiming for more than just bowl eligibility.
Defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity and associate head coach/special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Drew Svoboda are locked in with three-year contracts running through January 31, 2029 - a longer runway that gives them time to build and develop their units. The remaining 10 coaches are on two-year deals through January 31, 2028.
On the administrative side, Oklahoma State has invested heavily in its front office. General manager Raj Murti, executive director of player personnel Ethan Russo, and chief of staff Rolando Surita III will earn a combined $730,000 this year. Murti leads the trio at $280,000, Russo is set at $150,000, and Surita rounds it out at $300,000 - figures that reflect the growing importance of front office infrastructure in today’s college football landscape.
Here’s how the coaching salaries break down:
- Defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity: $1,102,275
- Cornerbacks coach Julian Wilson: $400,000
- Defensive backs coach Jordan Malone: $350,000
- Linebackers coach Reggie Johnson: $400,000
- Defensive line coach Greg Richmond: $450,000
- Assistant defensive line coach Mike O'Guin: $250,000
- Running backs coach Patrick Cobbs: $500,000
For Oklahoma State, this isn’t just about new faces - it’s about building a foundation. The contracts reflect a program that’s serious about competing at the highest level, but also grounded in the reality that success starts with alignment, preparation, and a willingness to reset.
Morris and his staff are betting on their chemistry to carry over from North Texas, but they’re also embracing the challenge of re-establishing everything from the ground up. The message is clear: nothing is assumed, and everything has to be earned - starting now.