Mike Boynton out as Oklahoma State men's basketball coach after seven seasons
Mar. 14—Oklahoma State and coach Mike Boynton have parted ways, athletic director Chad Weiberg announced Thursday.
Boynton leaves Stillwater as the fourth-winningest coach in program history. He was 119-109 in his seven seasons. In Big 12 Conference play, the program mustered a 51-75 record in his time — with just one winning season (2020-21) in league play.
Oklahoma State's season ended with a 77-62 opening round game in the Big 12 tournament to UCF on Tuesday.
"For seven years, Coach Boynton has led this program and represented this university with class. We're grateful for the genuine passion and care he has for the student-athletes on our team," Weiberg said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the desired results have not followed. Therefore, it is time to part ways and begin a new chapter. We wish Coach Boynton and his family the very best."
Boynton took over the program in 2017 after being promoted from his assistant role when Brad Underwood departed for Illinois. Before even coaching his first game for Oklahoma State, the program was embroiled in an FBI investigation stemming from the actions of former assistant coach Lamont Evans during Underwood's year coaching the Cowboys.
The investigation led to penalties including a postseason ban and loss of scholarships — an aspect in which the new coach of the program will still have to deal with for another year.
Boynton led the fifth-seeded Cowboys to the Big 12 tournament title game, which they lost to No. 3 seed Texas, and the NCAA tournament's second round in 2021. It was his only NCAA tournament appearance.
That run was made possible by Boynton landing the top recruit in the 2020 high school class with future NBA No. 1 overall draft pick Cade Cunningham.
He agreed to a seven-year contract extension after that season and still had four years left on the deal.
Late in this season, Boynton had noted in an interview with the Tulsa World that the increase of NIL playing a role in recruiting in college athletics was impacting his ability to draw in and retain players within the program.
Prior to this season, he had several key contributors depart for other programs, including starting point guard Avery Anderson III, who went to Big 12 rival TCU (21-11, 9-9 in Big 12), where he played in all 32 games (starting in 17) and averaged 8 points while tied for the team lead in assists (107), as well as Tyreek Smith — who has played in all 31 games, including 11 starts, for SMU (20-11, 11-7 in AAC).
OSU will have to pay a $9.1 million buyout. Per the release from Oklahoma State, a national search has begun for Boynton's replacement.
