Kasey Dunn Promoted to Offensive Coordinator
(This article was contributed to by Zach Lancaster of Pokes Report and Oklahoma State athletic media relations.)
STILLWATER – In the locker room at NRG Stadium after the Cowboys finished the 2019 season with a 24-21 loss to Texas A&M in the Academy Sports and Outdoors Texas Bowl, Kasey Dunn thought he had coached his last game at Oklahoma State, at least for this stint.
The popular and highly respected receivers coach had his players gathered around him, including injured All-American Tylan Wallace and his brother Tracin, a student coach for Dunn. There was Dillon Stoner, Landon Wolf, C.J. Moore and Langston Anderson. Walk-ons like Gabe Simpson, Jacob Morris, and senior Taje Williams were locked in and focused on Dunn. Even the eventual NCAA transfer portal entry Patrick McKaufman was not only listening, but he was teared up with emotions. Later, McKaufman would say, "He has helped me become a man," in describing Dunn's impact on his life.
"He has been a father figure and he has taught me lessons that I will use the rest of my life," Tylan Wallace confessed of Dunn's contributions.
Dunn looked at the group, thanked them for their work and effort. He told them that he would never forget any of them and that his phone number would never change and they could use it anytime they needed him and he would answer.
Dunn, confirmed to be on his way to UNLV to be offensive coordinator, then told them as a group that they needed to do one thing in him honor. "The next man that walks in that receivers' room, you give him the same respect that you gave me. You do everything you can to make him successful. If you don't, then you are disrespecting me," finished Dunn.
It turns out that the next man to walk in that room, and the man that will walk into the offensive staff room and the offensive meeting room with that entire side of the ball, will be Dunn. As Pokes Report projected on Friday when Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy hired former Louisiana Tech record-setting quarterback, NFL veteran, and college and NFL quarterback coach Tim Rattay as his quarterback coach, Kasey Dunn has been elevated into the role of offensive coordinator for the Cowboys.
Gundy announced the move today and took full advantage of his involvement with the ESPN Coaches Film Room coverage and the attention on college football as the Dunn promotion will run on the ESPN crawl throughout the evening. In addition, Gundy will likely comment on Dunn and his promotion during his appearance on the Coaches Film Room program.
Dunn has called plays before for the Cowboys. In the opening game this season at Oregon State when the coaches heading back to the press box for the second half were stuck in the elevator, it was Dunn that called the plays for a perfect 10 play, 75-yard drive that took 2:40 off the clock and was culminated with a two-yard touchdown run by Chuba Hubbard.
On the sidelines, Gundy was trying to congratulate Sean Gleeson on the series when he was told the coaches in the booth were just getting in there and that Dunn had called the series from the field. Dunn has been a big contributor to game plans throughout is time at Oklahoma State.
Following the bowl trip, Gundy and athletics director Mike Holder both worked on keeping Dunn on the Oklahoma State staff and got it accomplished. In part, with the opportunity to be offensive coordinator and also a reported five-year contract worth a speculated $800,000 per year.
Dunn joined Gundy's staff in 2011 and is widely recognized as one of the best in college football. In 2017, both 247Sports and Football Scoop honored him as the nation's top receivers coach. 2020 will be his 10th season with the Cowboys, which will make him the longest consecutively-serving OSU football assistant since 1962.
"We have been in Stillwater going on 10 years and have loved raising our family here and being part of the OSU community," Dunn said. "We have an excellent returning cast of players and coaches and a supportive fan base, which makes this an exciting time for Cowboy football. I'm honored to get this opportunity and thankful to Coach Holder and Coach Gundy."
Both of Dunn's daughters, Kayla and Lauren, are outstanding students and are in school at Oklahoma State. Kayla was a top 20 freshman her first year and has won awards for her work in her major in journalism. Dunn's wide Janelle is very involved in the community.
During his time in Stillwater, Dunn has coached two winners of the Biletnikoff Award presented to the nation's top receiver – Justin Blackmon in 2011 and James Washington in 2017. Blackmon (2011), Washington (2017) and Tylan Wallace (2018) each earned first-team All-America status under Dunn's tutelage.
In his nine years with the Cowboys, his receivers have earned All-Big 12 honors 10 times and OSU has had at least one All-Big 12 receiver in all but one of Dunn's years on staff.
This is the second straight year that Dunn has earned a promotion, as he added the title of Associate Head Coach in 2019.
In addition to his time in the college game, Dunn has an NFL pedigree. He coached running backs for the Seattle Seahawks from 2008-09. Since coming to Oklahoma State, 10 of his pupils have gone on to play in the NFL, including current pros Washington, Marcell Ateman, Tyron Johnson and Chris Lacy.
"Coach Dunn is a player's coach because he will be honest with you and always treat you with respect," Washington said. "He knows what matters and does a great job of communicating it in an authentic way."
"Kasey Dunn was a big help to me and a major contributor to everything we did when I was offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State," said former Cowboys offensive coordinator and now new Texas offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. "Kasey was the main communicator for me down on the sidelines."
Dunn has earned a tremendous amount of respect from his players, from his fellow coaches and from administrators and officials on campus. It is not imminent, but someday Mike Gundy will decide to retire and Kasey Dunn, with his time at Oklahoma State and knowledge of what it takes to succeed at OSU, could be a candidate to be the next head coach of the Cowboys. Make no mistake right now, he is very happy to be the next offensive coordinator.
