Dustin Ford - Men's Basketball Coach - University of Akron Athletics

Dustin Ford

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
dford@uakron.edu
Phone:
(330) 972-7781

Dustin Ford enters his 16^th season on Groce’s staff and eighth year at Akron.

Ford spent five years as an assistant at Illinois and four seasons at Ohio under Groce. At Illinois, Ford helped lead the Fighting Illini to a 95-75 overall record with four postseason appearances, including a berth to the NCAA Tournament in 2013. At Ohio, the coaching duo led the Bobcats to an 85-56 overall record from 2008 to 2012. During that span, Ohio won two Mid-American Conference championships with two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2012.

Prior to arriving in Athens, Ford served three years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator on Larry Hunter's staff at Western Carolina (2006-08). He was promoted to associate head coach in the spring of 2008. During his tenure at Western Carolina, he was responsible for recruiting two eventual Southern Conference Defensive Players of the Year in Brigham Waginger (2010) and Richie Gordon (2011) as well as SoCon Freshman of the Year Harouna Mutombo (2009).

Ford began his coaching career as the head varsity coach at Jackson High School in Jackson, Ohio, spanning four seasons (2002-05). Before entering the coaching profession, Ford was a standout player at Ohio, starting all four years (1998-01). He led the Bobcats in 3-point field goals as a junior and senior. Ford's 166 career 3-pointers and 310 career assists currently rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Bobcats’ program history.

“Dustin is very talented in all areas,” Groce said. “We have been together for almost a decade now, and with that comes an understanding of what it takes to be successful and the processes that are involved for us to move our program forward. He not only has great familiarity with Akron, but with the MAC in general having played and coached in the conference previously. In addition Dustin grew up in the state and has established deep relationships throughout Ohio that will be beneficial to our program.”