Ford steps down at Muskingum

NEW CONCORD – Muskingum University will conduct a nationwide search for a new men’s basketball coach after the retirement of Gene Ford.

Ford, a 1974 Muskingum alumnus, spent seven years as Muskingum University head men’s basketball coach. His coaching career in total lasted 38 years.

“It’s the right time,” Ford said in a press release. “I’ve been blessed to have been involved with basketball for four decades and it’s now time to step aside and spend more time with my family. The relationships I’ve developed with the student-athletes, coaches, staff and administration are the things I’ll miss the most.”

A member of the Muskingum Athletic Hall of Fame, Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, Ford coached four 1,000-point scorers at Muskingum, numerous All-Ohio Athletic Conference honorees and has led the Muskies to the OAC Tournament Final Four.

Throughout his tenure at Muskingum, Ford guided his Muskie squads to the top of the OAC in assists per game, fewest turnovers per game, best turnover/assist ratio, scoring defense, free throw shooting percentage, three-point field goal shooting percentage and rebounding defense, according to the press release.

As a player at Muskingum, Ford was a four-year basketball letterman and continues to rank second all-time in scoring with 1,717 career points. He was an All-American honoree, three-time All-OAC selection, and helped lead the Muskies to two OAC Championships. Ford was named the Mike Gregory OAC Player of the Year as a senior and was a charter member of the Muskingum Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980.