Holder: We Want Next OSU Coach To Have Style Of Iba, Sutton

In an interview on Saturday morning, Oklahoma State University athletic director Mike Holder says the decision to part ways with Travis Ford wasn't based on any one thing. He says injuries and other occurrences kept the program from getting "enough wind in the sails."

As for moving forward, Holder says he’s looking for three specific things in OSU's next coach: Character, the right fit for OSU and the Stillwater community, and a coaching style similar to Mr. Iba and Eddie Sutton.

“Man-to-man defense and discipline and all that that entails; we’re proud of that history,” Holder said.

3/18/2016 Related Story: OSU, Head Basketball Coach Travis Ford Parting Ways

Holder says priority No. 1 is to keep the current roster and signees intact.  Assistant James Dickey is the interim coach.  Holder also addressed whether OSU would be limited in what the school would pay the next coach based on the settlement, terms not yet public, with Ford.

“We’re about to make a long term decision and if you want to compete in the Big 12 conference, which is the No. 1 basketball conference in America, and you want to try to win a national championship, I don’t think you can put a lot of limitations on yourself,” Holder said. “We’ve got restrictions but I’d like to think we do a great job around here putting our money where the rubber meets the road, which is for our athletes and our coaches, try to help them be successful.”

Holder says he would love to hire an "OSU guy," but also says he doesn't want to limit the pool of potential candidates.  And he said he’d like to make a hire as soon as possible.