Travis Ford, Oklahoma State Part Ways: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

After eight seasons, Oklahoma State and head basketball coach Travis Ford have decided to part ways, the school announced.

ESPN Insider Jeff Goodman first reported the separation between Ford and Oklahoma State was likely to happen.

"I like [Ford] and his family," Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder said in the team's press release. "He worked very hard at his job. Unfortunately, we have to move on."

Ford has had an inconsistent tenure at Oklahoma State, despite making five NCAA tournament appearances. The team has seen its win total decrease each of the last three years after a 24-9 season in 2012-13. 

Things bottomed out for Ford and Oklahoma State this season with a 12-20 record, its most losses since 1986-87. 

Sam Gannon of Fox 25 in Oklahoma City acknowledged a change may have been needed, despite external forces contributing to this season's downturn:

The injuries came early for Oklahoma State last season, with Phil Forte playing just three games due to an elbow injury. He was leading the Cowboys in scoring (13.3 points per game). Jawun Evans, who was the second-leading scorer, missed 10 games with a shoulder injury. 

Yet even with those roster problems, Ford likely needed to improve upon the 18-14 mark Oklahoma State posted in 2014-15 to save his job, despite making an NCAA tournament appearance. 

His job has been the subject of rumors for a long time. John Helsley of the Oklahoman reported in March 2015 that Oklahoma State was considering buying Ford out of his contract, but the $9.6 million he was still owed as part of a 10-year contract extension signed in 2009 was a sticking point. 

There was also the public relations image of the program with Ford in charge. Mark Cooper of the Tulsa World reported earlier this month that OSU ticket sales were down by more than $2 million since Ford took over and that it ranked 58th out of 65 Power Five conference teams in attendance this season. 

All of these factors made it difficult for Oklahoma State to justify bringing Ford back, other than the amount of money he was still owed. 

Ford has had a successful coaching career, owning a 278-226 record at Eastern Kentucky, Massachusetts and Oklahoma State, but the decline over these last few years will make it difficult for him to find another job at a major conference program. 

Oklahoma State doesn't need to make a splash with its next head coach to bring back some of those fans who stopped buying tickets. Finding the right person who fits in with the program, can recruit and compete with the likes of Oklahoma, Kansas and West Virginia in the Big 12 has to be the top priority.