(Editors note: this story was updated at 8:45 p.m.)
Less than one week after Massachusetts men's basketball coach Travis Ford signed a contract extension with UMass, he is expected to sign another one -- this time at Oklahoma State.
Ford told his team this afternoon that he is leaving UMass to take the position at Oklahoma State.
A press conference was called tonight with UMass athletic director John McCutcheon and players Luke Bonner and Tony Gaffney, confirming that Ford is no longer the coach at UMass.
Ford was not in attendance, but did release the following statement:
"I have greatly enjoyed my three years here at UMass. It was a very difficult decision to leave UMass, one which my family and I struggled with mightily. I wish nothing but the best for the staff and players at UMass.
"They have been and will always be family to me. I feel the team at UMass has a great nucleus in place and I wish them the best in the future."
This comes just six days after Ford agreed in principle to a contract extension. Since that deal was never officially signed, OSU will only have to pay the original $200,000 buyout from Ford's pre-existant buyout.
Since the end of the Minutemen's season two weeks ago, Ford has been a candidate for the Louisiana State and Providence jobs. Ford released a statement denying interest in the LSU position last week.
"There has been a lot [of] misinformation circulating about me and the job at LSU," Ford said in a prepared statement released on April 8. "I feel that it is necessary to state that I do not want to be considered for the job."
Before the Minutemen completed their season, there was rampant speculation that LSU would hire Ford to replace John Brady, who was fired in February. Multiple sources, including ESPN's Pat Forde, estimated the possibility of LSU hiring Ford to be around 90 percent.
One day later, Ford interviewed with Providence but decided to remain with UMass and signed a contract extension.
UMass completed its season last Thursday with a loss to Ohio State in the finals of the National Invitation Tournament at Madison Square Garden. The Minutemen finished with a 25-11 record and will lose three senior starters to graduation. The 2008-09 season would mark Ford's fourth year at the University, after spending five seasons at Eastern Kentucky.
Former Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton resigned after two seasons with a 39-29 record and no NCAA Tournament appearances. He took over the program from his father, coach Eddie Sutton, in 2006-07.
Be the first to comment on this article!