Travis Ford, 38, was introduced as Oklahoma State’s 18th men’s basketball coach Thursday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
When word first got out about Oklahoma State hiring Travis Ford, many people asked, “Who?”
After all, the excitement caused by the push to bring in Bill Self was still looming after Self turned down the job.
When Athletic Director Mike Holder announced Ford would be the next Cowboy basketball coach, many questioned the hire.
I had my own doubts, but after Ford’s press conference on Wednesday, they were all erased.
Here are the top 10 reasons I believe Ford is the perfect fit as men’s basketball coach at OSU.
1. Ambition
Ford said his goal was to bring a national championship to Stillwater. He loves winning and hates losing. At 38, Ford already has more than 11 years of experience as a head coach.
“I think I can win a national championship here and I love the Big 12 and think it’s an incredible basketball league,” Ford said. “I just think it’s an incredible opportunity with the fan support and the excitement around the program and that’s what gets me excited.”
2. Fan-Friendliness
“I love meeting people and I love people who get excited about Oklahoma State basketball,” Ford said. “I could sit up here all day long and talk to you because that’s just the way I was raised.”
Ford listed the fan base as his No. 1 reason for coming to Stillwater.
3. Coaching Style
The up-tempo style of basketball that Ford teaches is exciting to watch. Under Ford, the University of Massachusetts ranked eighth nationally with 81.5 points per game. His teams use full court, half court and trapping defenses to frustrate opponents. Ford’s style of play is fun to play and can attract many recruits.
4. Success
Ford has successfully turned around three programs before coming to Oklahoma State. He went 67-31 at Cambellsville, took Eastern Kentucky from 7-19 in his first year to 22-9 in his last and became the sixth winningest coach at UMass in three seasons.
5. Charisma
With a million-dollar smile, Ford is the ultimate people person. The players said his confidence is contagious.
“I could just feel his confidence, you know, his swagger,” junior Terrel Harris said. “I believe he’s a good person and he’s just a truly genuine, honest, loyal person and that’s what we need as a coach.”
6. Attitude
Nothing comes easy with Ford, who guaranteed his players would be in the best shape of their lives next season. Ford likes to work and he does not hesitate to say that his team will work harder than it has ever worked before.
7. Pedigree
Ford hails from the same coaching lineage as Rick Pitino and Billy Donovan, both of whom he keeps in touch with, as well as Tubby Smith. His experience as a point guard coupled with his extensive basketball knowledge makes Ford one of the most intuitive coaches around.
8. Enthusiasm
Ford has an incomparable love for the game. He’s the type that goes to bed watching basketball and wakes up with a new offensive scheme.
“I love what I do and I want to show it,” Ford said. “I want people to know how much I love doing my job.”
9. Recruiting
Ford landed the No. 28 recruiting class in the nation at Western Kentucky in 2004-05. If he can bring a class like that to a mid-major school, imagine what he can bring to tradition-rich OSU.
10. Road wins!
Ford’s teams won 20 road games the last two seasons. Oklahoma State won two during that time. Enough said.
Ben Smith is a sports writer for the Daily O’Collegian. He can be reached via e-mail at ben.smith@okstate.edu.
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re. travis ford… watch out ,his sincerety is fashionable but thin as a slick cut of beef.. i was so happy to see my 2 fav. coaches . ford n donavan play each other in the nitn even happier to see umass. prevail… i said ok billy will have a great year next n travis will recruit well with this exposure i m.s/g….then comes the hatchet ..i;ll stay.. no i’ll go… remember he is an east coast coach.. n the kentucky job’s not availkable… thanks to billy i still have a club to root for….
Enthusiasm was something missing lately from OSU basketball. There were too many games where the players and coaches seemed to take the night off, and it showed with the record they produced. I think OSU will be an exciting team to watch next year. UMASS averaged 81 points/game. I don’t think you will be seeing any 19 point halves like I saw in Carbondale in the first round NIT game.
I really do believe Ford accepted the job for #1, the fan base. As a Kentucky native and a player at UK for 3 years and seeing Rupp Arena filled to the rafters every game…he knows the importance of that.
Seems UMass did not have the fans show up until the NIT.
I honestly think that OSU got a good hire and he will do a great job.
One of my favorite BB players for UK.
Ford accepted the job #1 for the salary. There is nothing wrong with that, but try and deal with reality.
Point #9… Ford never coached at Western Kentucky. Author had it correct at the start of the article with Eastern Kentucky. I know everyone is amazed that Kentucky can have so many schools, but they are two very different universities.
Ford never got the #28 recruiting class in the country at Western Kentucky because he never coached there. I think you mean Eastern Kentucky.
OSU has tradition? i didn’t realize that
To KU fan:
If you didn’t know OSU had tradition, then you didn’t likely know that your now-celebrated coach came from OSU, or that one of your few basketball losses last year came at the hands of tradition-rich OSU.–OSU Grad now living in Houston
Why does everyone hate on Oklahoma State basketball tradition. Congrats on the championship KU fan but don’t forget that your jayhawks lost this year in iba which has been documented as one of the most historic arenas in the nation
not to be an old fart.. and I like the big 12 and KU.. but I believe OSU has two national titles in 45′ and 46′ so chill out KU fans and enjoy your title.. as a Kentucky native and fan I say “best wishes to Ford on his new job”! BTW WKU = Hilltoppers, Ford coached EKU = Colonels.. I would like to see Self and Ford battle it out more than say UNC vs Duke (Self vs Ford should draw national exposure ==> ie we could get the game in Kentucky)