Vanderbilt denies report that Kevin Stallings is no longer its basketball coach

This morning, VandySports.com reported that Kevin Stallings' tenure at Vanderbilt had come to an end. A few hours later, university representatives stepped forward to deny that claim.

Here's what the Tennessean's Adam Sparks reported on Thursday afternoon:

Reports of Vanderbilt basketball coach Kevin Stallings' dismissal or departure were "emphatically" denied by an athletic department spokesman Thursday.

"I just got off the phone with (athletics director David Williams) and he emphatically says the rumor is not true or accurate that Kevin Stallings is no longer our coach" Vanderbilt director of communications Rod Williamson said.

A few hours later, Fox 17 Sports Director Paul Jones backed up Sparks' report.

BREAKING: Kevin Stallings just told me via text there's "no truth to any of it (his departure from @VandyMBB ) whatsoever." @FOXNashville

— Paul Jones (@PJFOX17) March 24, 2016

Vanderbilt went to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in Stallings' 17 years at the helm this winter, but the Commodores' First Four loss was a tremendous disappointment for a team with Final Four aspirations. Vandy started three different probable NBA Draft picks this season but still lost 14 games. The team's best road win came against a Florida team that had to settle for an NIT bid.