Oklahoma Sooners assistant coach Cale Gundy resigns after reading aloud ‘shameful and hurtful’ word

By Wayne Sterling, CNN

Oklahoma Sooners assistant football coach Cale Gundy has resigned from the Big 12 school after reading aloud a “shameful and hurtful” word during a film session.

Last week, Gundy said one of his players was “distracted” during the film session, so the coach picked up the player’s iPad and read aloud what he saw on the tablet. According to Gundy, what he saw on the screen had nothing to do with football.

He did not disclose what the word was.

“One particular word that I should never — under any circumstance — have uttered was displayed on that screen,” Gundy wrote on his Twitter account Sunday.

“In the moment, I did not even realize what I was reading and, as soon as I did, I was horrified. I want to be very clear: The words that I read aloud from that screen were not my words.

“What I said was not malicious; it wasn’t even intentional. Still, I am mature enough to know that the word I said was shameful and hurtful, no matter my intentions.”

He added: “The unfortunate reality is that someone in my position can cause harm without ever meaning to do so. In that circumstance, a man of character accepts accountability. I take responsibilities for my mistake. I apologize.”

First-year head football coach Brent Venables accepted Gundy’s resignation and thanked him for his service at the school.

“It’s with sadness that I accept Coach Gundy’s resignation,” Venables said in a statement on Twitter.

“He’s dedicated more than half of his life to Oklahoma Football and has served our program and university well. We’re thankful for that commitment.

“We also acknowledge that in stepping aside he’s placed the program and the welfare of our student-athletes first.

“In coaching and in life, we’re all accountable for our actions and the resulting outcomes. The culture we’re building in our program is based on mutual respect.

“Our staff is here to develop successful student-athletes, but also young men of character. As the leaders of this program, it’s essential that we hold ourselves to the highest standards as we model for our players the type of men we want them to become.”

Venables announced that offensive analyst L’Damian Washington will replace Gundy as the interim wide receivers coach.

Gundy said he did not want to be a distraction.

“I recognize this is a critical moment for Oklahoma football,” Gundy wrote. “This team — its coaches, players, administration and fans — do not deserve to be distracted by off-the-field matters while working to continue the tradition of excellence that makes me so proud to be a Sooner.”

Gundy, who is the brother of Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy, was entering his eighth season as receivers coach after previously being the team’s running backs coach for 16 years.

He was a member of the coaching staff for 14 of Oklahoma’s Big 12 championships and the school’s national championship in 2000 under former head coach Bob Stoops.

Gundy was also Oklahoma’s quarterback from 1990 to 1993, holding “virtually every OU single-game, single-season and career passing record prior to Stoops’ arrival,” according to the school.

The Oklahoma Sooners begin the 2022 season at home against the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Miners on September 3.

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