Oklahoma State AD: Ford will remain hoops coach

Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder said in a statement Tuesday that Travis Ford will remain Oklahoma State's head basketball coach, despite reports and rumors saying Ford's job is in jeopardy.

Ford has a 143-91 record in seven years at Oklahoma State. His Cowboys went 18-14 this season and dropped seven of their final eight games, including a loss in the round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament.

His Oklahoma State teams have reached the NCAA Tournament five times, but have just one win. Some fans are disappointed that the Cowboys haven't done more, despite having talent such as current NBA players Marcus Smart and Markel Brown.

Ford signed an extension in 2009 that lasts through 2019. Holder said the school is ''fully committed to coach Ford and supporting him and our basketball program.''

''Given the overwhelming amount of unfounded rumors surrounding the future of our head basketball coach Travis Ford, I am departing from my usual practice of not talking about personnel matters,'' Holder said in the statement.

''Travis Ford is our head coach now, and he will be our head coach moving forward. No one wants to win games, win championships and make deep tournament runs more than our coach.''

Holder said he met with Ford at the end of the season, and the results were positive.

''I am convinced Travis is as dedicated as ever to our university and to the young men who play for him,'' Holder said. ''I was particularly pleased with our conversation around the importance of graduating our basketball players.''

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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP.