Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy fired Bill Young for being a man way older than 40, according to reports

Former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Bill Young has claimed that he was fired due to his age, according to a report by Jimmie Tramel of the Tulsa World. Oklahoma State announced Thursday that Young was stepping down as defensive coordinator, days after a 58-14 win over Purdue in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.

The Cowboys ranked 64th nationally in scoring defense, giving up 28.2 points per game and allowing 41 or more points in the team's five losses. Young claims, however, that Mike Gundy had decided to let him go in February 2012 because he was too old to effectively coach and recruit:

Young said he was told by Gundy in February that college football is a young man's game "and I was the face of the defense and he thought my age would hurt recruiting and he thought players wouldn't play for me."

Young said he thought that was "nowhere near right." He expressed those feelings to Gundy and they agreed to disagree. The result? It was determined the 2012 season would be Young's last.

Young, who is 66 years old and missed two games this season with complications due to an aneurysm, has stated he has no intention to retire after more than 40 years in coaching. Young was a longtime defensive coordinator for John Cooper at Ohio State and has extensive experience in the Big 12, having previously coached at Iowa State, Kansas, and Oklahoma.