Former Oklahoma State’s Travis Ford To Be Hired As New SLU Coach

Travis Ford, former Oklahoma State head coach, has accepted an offer as St. Louis University’s new head basketball coach, a source familiar with the matter confirmed Tuesday night.

Former Oklahoma State’s Travid Ford To Be Hired As New SLU Coach

Neither Ford nor SLU athletics director Chris May could be reached for comment but the university issued a statement indicating a hire has not yet been completed.

“Saint Louis University has not hired a men’s basketball coach,” the statement said. “The process is ongoing. Information on an introductory press conference will be sent once a coach is hired.”

Ford was fired this month by Oklahoma State after an eight-year run during which he posted a record of 155-111 with five NCAA Tournament appearances. He was 63-75 in the Big 12. The Oklahoma State Cowboys went 12-20 this season with Ford.Ford, 46, has previous Atlantic 10 experience, having previously coached at Massachusetts, where he went 62-35 and came away with one regular-season championship before moving to Oklahoma State.

SLU had thus far been eying Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew, according to a source who stated Drew’s agent was contacted regarding the job. However, that deal fell through after the Valpo Crusaders remained in action in the National Invitation Tournament by defeating the BYU Cougars 72-70 on Tuesday night.

Ford’s contract a Oklahoma State had three years and $7.2 million remaining, according to reports. SLU paid its former head basketball coach Jim Crews close to $1 million before he was fired after the school’s last Atlantic-10 Tournament game nearly three weeks ago.

Ford ended his tenure at Oklahoma State with a 3-15 conference mark last season before being replaced by Stephen F. Austin’s Brad Underwood. He played one year collegiately at Missouri during the 1989-1990 season before transferring to Kentucky for his last three seasons.

Ford’s tenure at UMass coincided with SLU’s entry into the A-10. At Oklahoma State, Ford became known as an excellent recruiter. His best player was Marcus Smart, who was named the Big 12 player of the year as a freshman.

The SLU Billikens have finished 11-21 each of the last two years, and will soon lose senior guard Ash Yacoubou. They finished 13th in the A-10 this past season.

Caption:NORMAN, OK – FEBRUARY 24: Head coach Travis Ford of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reacts as the Oklahoma Sooners pull ahead during the second half of a NCAA college basketball game at the Lloyd Noble Center on February 24, 2016 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)