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Oklahoma State hires Brad Underwood as head coach

Brad Underwood, Jared Johnson

Stephen F. Austin head coach Brad Underwood, right, motivates his team as guard Jared Johnson (3) watches play in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, in Waco, Texas. Baylor won 97-55. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AP

Just one day after Stephen F. Austin’s season came to an end with a one-point loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA tournament, the program will be looking for a new head coach.

Monday evening NBCSports.com confirmed that Brad Underwood would be leaving the Southland Conference school for Oklahoma State, where he’ll fill the vacancy left by the departure of Travis Ford. Oklahoma State made the news official shortly thereafter. Underwood leaves SFA after three incredibly successful seasons at the helm, which produced three trips to the NCAA tournament and two victories.

Underwood’s teams compiled an overall record of 89-14 in three seasons, which includes a 59-1 record against Southland competition. In the 2014 NCAA tournament SFA knocked off VCU before falling to UCLA, and in this year’s event the Lumberjacks soundly defeated No. 3 seed West Virginia in the first round.

Given his accomplishments at SFA and work as an assistant under Frank Martin at Kansas State, it was only a matter of time before high-major programs called for Underwood (who’s a K-State alum). Oklahoma State finished the 2015-16 season with a record of 12-20, and while Ford did lead the program to five NCAA tournament appearances the program hasn’t been to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament since 2005 under Eddie Sutton.

The team was hit hard by injuries, and with guards Jawun Evans and Phil Forte expected back Underwood will have some players to work with in Stillwater next season.

News of Underwood’s hiring was first reported by CBSSports.com.