Oklahoma State football: Bill Young will not return as Cowboys' defensive coordinator; Glenn Spencer promoted

Young told the Tulsa World Thursday, though, that it was determined during a meeting between Gundy and Young in February that, since Young had no plans of retiring in the near future, the 2012 season would be his last at OSU.

Young said Gundy believed Young’s age would negatively impact recruiting and his players’ ability to respond to his coaching. Young disagreed.  

“We had a good discussion,” Young said. “I told him if he wouldn’t mind, please don’t put this (information) out there until I have time to finish the season and look for a new job.

“He agreed to that. He was very accommodating and was trying to help. It’s easier to get a job in this business if you have got one.”

Forcing turnovers had been a staple of Young’s defenses at OSU, with the Cowboys leading the nation in takeaways (44) a season ago. But that didn’t hold true in 2012, as the Cowboys only forced 22 turnovers.

The Cowboys also particularly struggled in the secondary this past season, ranking 110th out of 120 teams in the nation in passing defense (280 yards allowed per game) and often allowing large cushions for opposing receivers to make the catch.

Young, a former OSU outside linebacker/defensive end, was in his second stint on the Cowboy staff. He coached the offensive and defensive lines from 1976-78, before stops in the college ranks at Iowa State, Tulsa, Arizona State, Ohio State, OU, USC, Kansas and Miami. He also spent the 2001 season coaching the defensive line for the Detroit Lions.