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| Oklahoma State University athletics | |
|---|---|
| Name | Oklahoma State Cowboys and Cowgirls |
| University | Oklahoma State University–Stillwater |
| Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Division | NCAA Division I (FBS) |
| Location | Stillwater, Oklahoma |
| Teams | 17 |
| Stadium | Boone Pickens Stadium |
| Arena | Gallagher-Iba Arena |
| Mascot | Pistol Pete |
| Nickname | Cowboys and Cowgirls |
| Fight song | "Ride 'Em Cowboys" |
Oklahoma State University athletics Oklahoma State University athletics programs represent the Oklahoma State University–Stillwater intercollegiate sports teams, commonly referred to as the Cowboys and Cowgirls. The programs compete in the Big 12 Conference at the NCAA Division I level, featuring prominent teams in football, basketball, wrestling, and track and field. Over its history, the athletics department has produced multiple national champions, Olympians, and professional athletes who have excelled in leagues such as the National Football League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball.
Originally organized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries at Oklahoma A&M College, the athletics program evolved through landmark events including the construction of early facilities and shifts in conference membership. During the 1920s and 1930s, coaches like John Maulbetsch and administrators such as Edward F. "E.F." Morrill shaped teams that competed regionally against schools like University of Oklahoma, University of Kansas, and University of Missouri. The program transitioned from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Big Eight Conference and later into the Big 12 Conference after the Southwest Conference realignments. Historic seasons included national prominence under basketball coaches linked to Henry Iba's coaching tree and wrestling dynasties influenced by figures associated with Dan Gable-era standards. The university produced Olympians who represented nations at the Summer Olympics, and alumni have appeared in championship games such as the Rose Bowl and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four.
Oklahoma State sponsors varsity programs in sports including football, men's and women's basketball, men's wrestling, women's equestrian, baseball, softball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and men's soccer in club-to-varsity transitions. Football teams have faced rivals like University of Oklahoma Sooners and University of Kansas Jayhawks while sending players to the NFL Draft. Men's basketball teams have competed under coaches with ties to the NCAA Tournament and have played opponents such as University of North Carolina and University of Kentucky. Wrestling programs have won multiple national championships and produced NCAA champions who later became coaches affiliated with programs at Iowa State University and Penn State University. Golf programs have produced major champions who competed in the PGA Championship and the Masters Tournament, while track and field athletes have scored at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships and represented countries at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics.
Primary facilities include Boone Pickens Stadium for football, Gallagher-Iba Arena for basketball, the OSU Wrestling Complex, O'Brate Stadium for baseball, and the Cowgirl Soccer Complex. Boone Pickens Stadium underwent major renovations funded by donors associated with energy sectors and philanthropic foundations, creating modern amenities comparable to venues like Kinnick Stadium and Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Gallagher-Iba Arena hosts NCAA Tournament games and has drawn opponents such as University of Kansas Jayhawks and Duke University. Training centers and practice fields support development comparable to those at University of Texas at Austin and University of Florida.
Traditions center on the mascot Pistol Pete, fight songs like "Ride 'Em Cowboys," and home game rituals that draw alumni from regions including Tulsa, Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Rivalries with the University of Oklahoma (the Bedlam Series), University of Kansas, and Iowa State University drive heightened attendance and regional media coverage. Homecoming events, band traditions involving the Marching Band and pep band interactions with visiting bands from Texas Tech University and West Virginia University, and campus ceremonies tied to donor legacies create a distinct fan culture. Rivalry games have produced matchups referenced alongside contests such as the Red River Showdown and the Border War (Kansas–Missouri) in regional sports discourse.
Oklahoma State programs have amassed NCAA team championships in wrestling and golf, and individual NCAA titles in track and field, wrestling, and golf. Wrestling championships rank among the most successful in collegiate history, with individual NCAA champions later inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the NCAA Hall of Champions. Golf alumni have won professional majors such as the U.S. Open (golf) and have been named PGA Tour Players of the Year. Athletes have earned All-American distinctions, Academic All-American honors overseen by the College Sports Communicators, and conference awards including Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Freshman of the Year and Big 12 Conference Player of the Year recognitions.
Notable figures include football alumni drafted into the NFL, basketball standouts who played in the NBA, and wrestlers who became Olympians and coaches. Prominent alumni and coaches have professional and collegiate associations with institutions such as Cleveland Browns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling, and the USA Wrestling program. Coaches from Oklahoma State have accepted positions at schools like University of Oklahoma, Iowa State University, and Rutgers University, while alumni have been inducted into halls including the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The athletics department operates under athletics directors who report within the university structure and coordinate compliance with NCAA rules, Big 12 Conference bylaws, and student-athlete welfare programs. Conference affiliations have included the Missouri Valley Conference, Big Eight Conference, and the Big 12 Conference following NCAA realignment discussions that involved institutions such as University of Texas at Austin, University of Oklahoma, Texas Christian University, and West Virginia University. Administrative responsibilities cover revenue generation through media rights deals with broadcasters comparable to agreements involving the ESPN family, licensing partnerships with collegiate apparel providers like Nike, and fundraising ties to alumni networks spanning cities such as Dallas, Houston, and New York City.
Category:Oklahoma State University Category:College sports teams in Oklahoma