Eric Morris is known in college football circles for developing or recruiting potential star quarterbacks. He either had a hand in signing up or teaching then-budding prospects Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, Cam Ward, John Mateer, Chandler Morris, and Drew Mestemaker.
After eventful head coaching stints in Incarnate Word and North Texas, Morris was announced on Tuesday as the incoming playcaller for “Power 5” school Oklahoma State. This transition marks the beginning of a new era for the Cowboys, with Morris now set to lead the team next season.
Oklahoma State Hypes Up New Era of Cowboys Football With Historic Hiring of Eric Morris
Oklahoma State, which had its last winning season in 2023, hired Eric Morris to be its new head coach on Tuesday, ending a long, exhaustive search for a replacement for Mike Gundy, who was fired in the middle of the season after a 1-2 start. The development was historic for the Cowboys. He became the first sitting head coach hired since 1969 and the first playcaller hired from a Division I FBS school.
What a note from the school — this hire marks the first time since 1969 that Oklahoma State has hired a sitting head coach and the first time in school history that OSU has hired a sitting head coach from a school that is in the Football Bowl Subdivision. https://t.co/uDB6BU4Auu
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 25, 2025
Pending board approval, Morris will become the 25th head football coach in Oklahoma State history, and athletic director Chad Weiberg is upbeat about the development.
“Today begins the next era of Oklahoma State Football,” Weiberg said. “I am thrilled to introduce Eric Morris, his wife Maggie and their boys Jack and George to the OSU Family. Coach Morris has proven his ability to build and lead winning football programs. He has consistently identified, recruited and developed some of the best players in college football.”
‘Quarterback Whisperer’ Eric Morris Helps North Texas To Potential College Football Playoff Stint
Littlefield, Texas native Morris, who will remain with North Texas through the season finale and the entire postseason, is in a position to help North Texas reach the College Football Playoff and the American Conference Championship Game.
Per PFSN’s CFB Playoff Meter, the Mean Green has a 15.82% chance of making the college football playoffs, and Morris and North Texas can get it outright if it wins the American Athletic Conference championship, securing the automatic bid for the Group of Five.
The Mean Green, ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll, has reached this status, thanks to the partnership of Morris and redshirt freshman Drew Mestemaker. Doing what he does best in his stints with Texas Tech, Washington State, and Incarnate Word, Morris has transformed the signal-caller into an elite passer, throwing for 3,469 yards, with 26 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 games this season.
Weiberg hopes the hiring of Morris would help the Cowboys regain their relevance in the Big 12 and in the FBS. He expects this to be the start of something big for Oklahoma State, which has been mired in the cellar of the Big 12 Conference over the past two seasons.
