STILLWATER, OKLA. ? Oklahoma State promoted offensive coordinator Mike Gundy to head coach Monday, the same day former OSU coach Les Miles was hired at LSU.

Gundy, 37, was the offensive coordinator under Miles for the past four seasons, helping the Cowboys average 31.5 points per game during his tenure. He was OSU’s quarterback from 1986-89 and owns school records for career total offense and most passing yards in a game with 429.

“It’s been a long ride for me, but this is my New York Yankees job,” Gundy said. “At times in our profession, people will tell you you’re not supposed to ever let administration know that you’re at your last stop. Well, I didn’t have a problem with that because I’m so fired up to be here at Oklahoma State and be working with the administrators and the people we have here that I can’t hardly stand it.”

After his playing days, Gundy joined the Cowboys’ coaching staff as an assistant in 1990. He left in 1996 to become Baylor’s quarterbacks coach. He joined Maryland the following year and worked with the team’s receivers for three seasons before becoming the team’s passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2000 season.

He was a candidate to be the Cowboys’ head coach in 2001, when Miles was hired. Gundy was hired days later as Miles’ offensive coordinator.

In his first three seasons, Gundy built a strong passing game around quarterback Josh Fields and receiver Rashaun Woods. When those players left, he adjusted the offense to showcase running back Vernand Morency this season.

As Gundy was introduced, school officials learned that Morency decided to leave school and become eligible for the NFL draft.

Despite missing one game with a knee injury, Morency carried 250 times for 1,454 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season.

“With coach Miles leaving, I just feel mentally and physically ready to go and make my presence felt in the NFL,” said Morency, who turns 25 on Feb. 4. “There’s no doubt I’m the top back in America.”

Morency was limited to 24 yards on eight carries in the Alamo Bowl, which the Cowboys lost 33-7 to Ohio State. Before that game, he said he would return for his senior season so he could keep a pact with his mother to earn his degree. Miles’ move changed Morency’s mind.

“When the boss man leaves, you don’t know where the team is heading,” Morency said.

Meanwhile, Miles was introduced Monday as LSU’s coach. He replaces Nick Saban, who left the Tigers for the Miami Dolphins.

Miles took an OSU program that hadn’t been to a bowl game for 12 years and guided them to a 28-21 record and three bowl games in four seasons. The Cowboys also enjoyed a surge in ticket sales of 35-40 percent during his tenure.

LSU declined to reveal details of Miles’ contract, except to say that Miles would not be paid as well as Saban, who had the nation’s richest college football contract, a seven-year, $18.45 million deal he signed after winning a share of the national title in 2003.

Miles’ contract still needs to be approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors, which is scheduled to meet later this month. LSU might have to pay a buyout to get Miles out of his contract with Oklahoma State. Miles recently agreed to a contract with the Cowboys that extends through 2011 and pays him an average of more than $1.5 million per year.