As coaches, Travis Ford and John Smith shared offices in Gallagher-Iba Arena with Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna. As friends, they shared memories of encouragement and support.

Oklahoma State U. men’s basketball coach Travis Ford said Budke and he were each others biggest fans, and his players knew Budke well with the time he spent around the team.

“He would stop through and watch practices, and I would stop through and watch his practices,” Ford said. “You don’t find that today. It’s probably more uncommon than it is common in today’s athletics, unfortunately.

“Not Kurt Budke – he was the support everybody.”

The wrestling and women’s basketball team offices are next to each other in Gallagher-Iba Arena, but coach John Smith also would see Budke outside of work as they both attended St. John’s Catholic Church next to the arena.

“We had a connection by our faith, and that drew us even closer together,” Smith said. “We’ve had a good time with some of our talks, our concerns and maybe leaning on one another at times to try to get some answers or some of our issues solved.”

Ford and Smith praised Budke for always putting the best interests of his players first. Ford called him a complete father figure and said his personality that allowed him to communicate with his team was his greatest strength.

Smith said Budke never let adversity or times of struggle bother him.

“He always believed in himself and believed in turning any situation around,” Smith said. “He was just an upbeat coach that didn’t let much get him down.”

The memories of Serna are just as strong for both coaches.

Similar to Budke, Serna had a positive attitude and always had something kind to say. Smith said Serna would often visit the wrestling office and play with the wrestling coaches’ children that would be in the office.

Serna was the recruiting coordinator for women’s basketball team, and Ford said she loved doing her job.

“I loved her energy for the game,” Ford said. “She had a great enthusiasm. She enjoyed recruiting and she enjoyed the process of that.”

Ford said Budke loved the team he had on the team, and Budke was ready to see how the women on the team would play this season.

Now, the difficulty for the team is to continue through the emotions and finish the season strong.

“It think it’s just going to take time, a lot of time,” Ford said. “But I think they can play for his spirit and his love for the game. They know that is what he would want. I think you will see an inspired group of young women.”

The Cowgirls and interim head coach Jim Littell can expect plenty of support from their male counterparts.

“I talked to our team, and we need to help those girls in any way we can,” Ford said. “I don’t know what that means, but that is our priority right now.”

“I told coach Littell that I don’t care what I’m doing. If you need me, I am there.”