Tennessee State men’s basketball Head Coach Dana Ford, the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year, signed a contract extension through the 2020-21 season.
“I’m really happy that University President Dr. Glenda Glover, Dana and I were able to work out an extension for him,” TSU Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips said. “I think it’s very important when you have a successful coach at the mid-major level, that you continue to do things in order to show him that his successes mean a great deal to your university and your department. Extending his contract gives him that solidity that we are supportive of him, and we see this as a long-term commitment. We’re very pleased to have worked out this extension.”
Ford, who recently completed his second year as the Tigers’ head coach, guided TSU to a 20-11 record and a berth in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament in 2015-16. The 20 wins tied the program’s Division I record for single-season victories and marked the third 20-win season for TSU since joining the D-1 ranks prior to the 1977-78 season.
“We want to thank University President Dr. Glenda Glover, Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips, and our entire administration for showing their confidence in us to continue to lead the men’s basketball program here at TSU,” Ford said. “We are excited about what our players have been able to accomplish in our two years and look forward to guiding the program to more success in the future.”
A year after going 5-26 in his first season as the TSU Head Coach, Ford orchestrated one of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA history this past season. The youngest Division I men’s basketball head coach in the nation at 32 years old, Ford earned a number of accolades for the 2015-16 season. In addition to OVC Coach of the Year, the Tamms, Ill. native won the Ben Jobe Award for the Nation’s top minority coach and was named NABC District 19 Coach of the Year and BoxToRow Coach of the Year for the Nation’s top HBCU head coach.
Prior to taking over at TSU, Ford served as the associate head coach at his alma mater, Illinois State for two seasons. In addition to coaching stops at Wichita State and Chipola Community College, Ford was an assistant coach at TSU from 2009-11 under then-head coach John Cooper.
Ford graduated from Illinois State in 2006 following a four-year career on the men’s basketball team.
