Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder said Tuesday that he is "fully committed" to men's basketball coach Travis Ford, one day after reports emerged that the Cowboys were considering the possibility of firing the coach.
"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 a statement. "Travis Ford is our head coach now, and he will be our head coach moving forward."
Sources had told ESPN.com late Monday that OSU was considering firing Ford after the team was ousted in the first round of the NCAA tournament for the third straight year, confirming a report by The Oklahoman. The chance of Ford being fired was "50-50," one source close to the situation told ESPN.com.
Holder refuted that Tuesday.
"No one wants to win games, win championships and make deep tournament runs more than our coach," he said. "When I met with Coach Ford at the end of the season, we reviewed this past season and spent time talking about the future of Oklahoma State basketball. I am convinced Travis is as dedicated as ever to our university and to the young men who play for him. I was particularly pleased with our conversation around the importance of graduating our basketball players."
A push from boosters had Holder examining the possibility, The Oklahoman had reported.
"We are fully committed to coach Ford and supporting him and our basketball program," Holder said.
Business mogul and Oklahoma State alum T. Boone Pickens also threw his support behind Ford.
I'm in Travis Ford's camp. He deserves more time at #OKState. Go Pokes! @BerryTramel @jjhelsley @OSUCoachFord5 @OSUMBB
— T. Boone Pickens (@boonepickens) March 31, 2015Ford, 45, received a four-year contract extension in 2009 designed to keep him through 2019.
Oklahoma State ended the season with seven losses in its last eight games, finishing 18-14 overall and 8-10 in the Big 12.
The Cowboys lost their first-round game of the NCAA tournament to Oregon, 79-73.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.