The University of Akron Athletics
Staff Directory
Ford, Deja

Deja Ford
- Title:
- Director of Basketball Operations
- Email:
- Phone:
- (330) 972-5510
Deja Ford is in her second season at Akron following a standout playing career at the College of Charleston. The Waldorf, Md., native is in her second season serving as the team's director of basketball operations for the 2024-25 campaign.
Â
Ford handles the day-to-day business operations of the team with a primary focus on travel coordination and community outreach projects.
Â
Ford, who was a four-year letterwinner with the Cougars, surpassed the 1,000-point plateau at the College of Charleston, where she garnered All-Colonial Athletic Association third-team accolades as a senior and was named the department’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2020.
Â
Ford earned her bachelor’s degree in in psychology with a minor in coaching in 2020 before going on to culminate her master’s degree in education with a concentration in leadership from Saint Francis University in 2023. While with the Red Flash, she served as a graduate assistant with the women’s basketball squad where she worked as the video coordinator, while assisting travel and equipment and did individual workouts.
Â
A two-time first-team all-league selection, Ford attended St. Mary's Ryken High School in Leonardtown, Md., where she surpassed 1,000 career points and averaging 16.8 points per game. She earned all-state, all-region and all-district honors as a senior.
Â
Â
Ford handles the day-to-day business operations of the team with a primary focus on travel coordination and community outreach projects.
Â
Ford, who was a four-year letterwinner with the Cougars, surpassed the 1,000-point plateau at the College of Charleston, where she garnered All-Colonial Athletic Association third-team accolades as a senior and was named the department’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2020.
Â
Ford earned her bachelor’s degree in in psychology with a minor in coaching in 2020 before going on to culminate her master’s degree in education with a concentration in leadership from Saint Francis University in 2023. While with the Red Flash, she served as a graduate assistant with the women’s basketball squad where she worked as the video coordinator, while assisting travel and equipment and did individual workouts.
Â
A two-time first-team all-league selection, Ford attended St. Mary's Ryken High School in Leonardtown, Md., where she surpassed 1,000 career points and averaging 16.8 points per game. She earned all-state, all-region and all-district honors as a senior.
Â
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Cleveland State - 9/1/2025
Tuesday, September 02
2025 Akron Zips Women's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Green Bay - 8/31/25
Monday, September 01
2025 Akron Zips Football Post-Game Press Conference vs. Wyoming - Coach Moorhead - 8/28/2025
Friday, August 29
2025 Akron Zips Football Post-Game Press Conference vs. Wyoming - with Student-Athletes - 8/28/2025
Friday, August 29