The University of Akron (UA) announced Monday that Dustin Ford has been named head coach of the Zips men’s basketball program, pending approval by the University’s board of trustees.
Ford served as the Associate Head Coach on former head coach John Groce’s staff at Akron for the last nine seasons. He played a pivotal role in Akron’s six Mid-American Conference championships, including three consecutive MAC Tournament titles and four NCAA postseason appearances in the last five seasons. He now takes over the program as it looks to build on its historic success in the MAC.
“Dustin Ford is the right leader to guide Akron men’s basketball into its next chapter,” University of Akron President R.J. Nemer said. “He has been a key part of our sustained success and brings the integrity, leadership and competitive mindset that define this program.“
“I’m extremely excited for this opportunity to lead the Akron men’s basketball program,” said Ford. “This is a program with a rich tradition, and I’m honored to be the one to help continue to move it forward. We’ve built something special here in Akron, and I look forward to working with our players, staff, and the community to build on our success.”
During his nine-year tenure at Akron, Ford helped develop the Zips into one of the MAC’s most consistent contenders, while developing frontcourt players Enirque Freeman and Amani Lyles. He has also made significant coaching contributions at Illinois and Ohio during his career.
“We are thrilled to announce Dustin Ford as the next head men’s basketball coach at the University of Akron,” Director of Athletics, Andrew T. Goodrich, said. “Dustin is highly respected by his peers and our student-athletes. His passion for developing young men both on and off the court is exactly what we need to continue the success of Akron basketball. We have complete confidence he is the right leader to guide our program into the future.”
Ford’s promotion marks a new chapter for the Zips, but he is already deeply familiar with the program’s culture and expectations. His ties to Akron, the MAC and the state of Ohio have played a key role in the program’s success and recruiting growth.
“Dustin has been critical to our success at Akron,” Groce said. “I’m excited for him to have the opportunity to lead the program we have built over the last nine years. He knows what it takes to be successful and the processes that are involved to move the program forward.”
Ford began his coaching career after a standout playing career at Ohio, where he started all four seasons. He spent four seasons as head varsity coach at Jackson High School in Jackson, Ohio, before moving to the collegiate level.
He joined Larry Hunter’s staff at Western Carolina in 2006, serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. During his time there, Ford helped develop multiple Southern Conference award winners, including two defensive players of the year and the league’s freshman of the year. He was promoted to associate head coach in 2008.
From 2008 to 2012, Ford worked alongside Groce at Ohio, helping lead the Bobcats to two MAC championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2012. He later spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois, where the Fighting Illini posted a 95-75 record and made four postseason appearances, including an NCAA Tournament berth in 2013.
As head coach, Ford is poised to continue the winning tradition through his commitment to player development and maintaining a high-level of play.
“We will build a team that is connected and competes with a level of toughness our fans have come to expect,” Ford said. “Our staff will be committed to developing our student-athletes every day they are at the University of Akron. I’m excited to build on what we’ve already accomplished and take it to another level. See you in the JAR!”
The university will host a public event in the coming weeks to welcome Ford and introduce him as head coach. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
https://gozips.com/news/2026/3/30/mens-basketball-ford-named-akron-zips-head-mens-basketball-coach
