Two-and-a-half weeks into the search, it appears Missouri State has its man to lead the men’s basketball program forward.
Our friend Jordan Burton from the O-Zone, confirming through a close source, Missouri State will hire Dana Ford to lead the Bears.
Ford is very familiar with the Missouri Valley Conference. The 33-year-old played at Illinois State from 2003-06. His coach with the Redbirds was current Loyola-Chicago head coach Porter Moser.
After graduation, Ford met another name familiar to Valley fans, Gregg Marshall. Ford was hired by Marshall three times. Once as a graduate assistant at Winthrop. The following year as a graduate assistant (again) at Wichita State. And then a third time with the Shockers in 2011 as an assistant.
Known as a great recruiter, Ford is credited with bringing Fred Van Vleet to the Shockers. Following the 2011-12 season, Ford returned to his alma mater, Illinois State, before being hired as head coach at Tennessee State in 2014.
The 33-year-old just wrapped up his 4th year at TSU where he is credited in turning the program around. After just five-wins in his first year, Ford posted a 20-win season in 2015-16. The 15-game jump helped the Tigers to a CIT postseason berth. Ford was also named the Ohio Valley Coach of the Year and Ben Jobe Award Winner, which goes to the nation’s top NCAA minority coach.
The past three years Tennessee State went a combined, 52-39. This past year the Tigers had a short rotation of players which brought that record down a bit.
Ford also brought fans back to Tennessee State with the program going from tenth in the Ohio Valley in attendance to third during his tenure.
Both Missouri State and Tennessee State are not commenting.
Missouri State’s Board of Governors would have to approve the deal. They are scheduled to meet, late Wednesday afternoon.
