Travis Ford: Latest Buzz, Speculation Surrounding Coach's Future at Oklahoma St.

Joseph ZuckerMar 30, 2015

The Oklahoma State Cowboys haven't advanced past the second round of the NCAA tournament under head coach Travis Ford. That March futility might finally come back to bite him, as the Cowboys are reportedly nearing a parting of the ways with Ford.

Continue for updates.

OK State AD Comments on Rumors

Tuesday, March 31

Oklahoma State Athletic Director Mike Holder defended his coach in a press release issued today, per Cody Stavenhagen of the O'Colly:

OK State Reportedly Negotiating Buyout with Ford

Monday, March 30

According to John Helsley of The Oklahoman, Oklahoma State is weighing whether or not to buy Ford out of his current contract. Helsley emphasized that the discussion is only in the early stages and provided the financial details involved in the move:

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The cost of firing Ford: at least $9.6 million – the full remainder owed from a 10-year contract extension given to the coach in September of 2009. It’s a sizable sum that serves as a deterrent to making a change, considering the school would then have to pay Ford’s replacement. And with the average Big 12 basketball coaching salary – among public schools – at $2.6 million, OSU could have as much as $5 million tied up in its basketball position next year and throughout the terms of Ford’s deal, which runs through 2019.
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Fox Sports Southwest's David Ubben commented how that 10-year extension looks worse and worse in retrospect:

Yahoo Sports' Jeff Eisenberg wonders whether there's any going back from this, considering the effect it could have on recruiting:

Ford has spent the last seven years in Stillwater, amassing a 234-143 record during that time. Although the Cowboys have won 20-plus games five times under his stewardship, those early exits from the Big Dance loom large. At a school like Oklahoma State, winning in the regular season alone won't cut it.

Ford's inability to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament so far might be his ultimate undoing.

But if Oklahoma State wants to send him packing, it will come at a massive cost.