Travis Ford

Travis Ford (born December 29, 1969) is an American college basketball coach, who is currently the head coach of the Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team.

He was also previously the head coach at Campbellsville University, Eastern Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma State.

Prior to that, he played at the University of Missouri and the University of Kentucky.

While attending Madisonville North Hopkins High School, Ford's team lost to Marshall County, led by future Vanderbilt signees Aaron Beth and Dan Hall, in the state quarterfinals.

Ford entered the University of Missouri in 1989.

He played basketball for the Missouri Tigers and was named to the Big Eight Conference All-Freshman team.

Ford's fifth season was highlighted by a huge win in Lawrence, Kansas against Kansas – the first win by OSU at Kansas since 1989.

The following year, Ford transferred to the University of Kentucky and sat out the 1990–91 season due to NCAA rules on transfers.

After playing sparingly his sophomore year, Ford was a starter during his junior and senior years, and set school records in single-game assists (15), single-season three-point field goals (101) and consecutive free throws made (50).

Ford was named to the All-SEC team his junior and senior years, and was recognized as the Southeast Region's Most Outstanding Player in the 1993 NCAA tournament.

After an unsuccessful attempt at an NBA career, Ford landed the role of Danny O'Grady in the 1997 movie The 6th Man, starring Marlon Wayans and Kadeem Hardison.

In 1997, Ford was offered the head coach job at Campbellsville University.

He accepted the position, and in 1999 led the Tigers to a 28–3 record, earning Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year honors.

In 2000, Ford accepted the head coaching position at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky.

After the 2004–05 season, Ford accepted the head coaching position at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

He led Oklahoma State to its first NCAA tournament appearance since the 2004–05 season.

In the tournament, Oklahoma State beat Tennessee before being knocked off by Pittsburgh in the second round.

In year two, Ford's Cowboys finished 22–11, 9–7 in conference.

The year was highlighted by wins over a top ten Kansas State on the road and a home win over #1 ranked Kansas.

Big 12 player of the year James Anderson was instrumental in both wins and became Travis Ford's first Cowboy to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft.

In five seasons at EKU, Ford led the Colonels from a 7–19 record his first year to a 22–9 record and an Ohio Valley Conference championship in 2005.

In a much publicized first-round NCAA Tournament matchup with his alma mater, the University of Kentucky, Ford's team pushed the Wildcats to the limit before losing 72–64.

During his first season, 2005–06, with the Minutemen, Ford posted a 13–15 record, 8–8 in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

The 2006–07 season saw Ford coach UMass to the fifth most wins in school history with an overall mark of 24–9.

The team shared the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season title with Xavier, going 13–3, but lost to Saint Louis in the second round of the Atlantic 10 tournament.

After earning a #4 seed in the postseason National Invitation Tournament, UMass defeated Alabama before losing in the second round to eventual NIT champion West Virginia.

The team featured Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Stéphane Lasme.

After the season ended, Ford's name was circulated as a long-shot replacement for the head coaching position at Ford's alma mater, the University of Kentucky.

These rumors were put to rest when after the season on April 10, 2007, UMass announced that Ford had signed a five-year contract extension.

The 2007–08 season was arguably even more successful for Ford and Massachusetts.

The team finished the season with a 25–11 record and a 10–6 record in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

After losing in the A-10 tournament to Charlotte, UMass accepted an invitation to the NIT for the second straight year.

They defeated Stephen F. Austin, Akron, Syracuse and Florida to make it to the NIT Finals.

In the NIT Finals, they lost to Ohio State 92–85.

Ohio State had made the previous year's NCAA championship game.

Despite the team's postseason success and the previous year's contract extension, Ford would leave the next season for Oklahoma State.

On April 16, 2008, Oklahoma State hired Ford to become the head basketball coach.

In his first season, Ford led the Cowboys to a 23–12 overall record, with a 9–7 record in conference.

Prior to the 2010–11 season, Ford signed McDonald's All-American recruit Marcus Smart.

The Cowboys finished 24–9 overall, 13–5 in conference.