Travis Ford

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Travis Ford (born December 29, 1969 in Madisonville, Kentucky, United States) is currently the head basketball coach at the University of Massachusetts. He has previously been the head coach at Campbellsville University and Eastern Kentucky University. Prior to that, he played at the University of Missouri and the University of Kentucky. He also played Danny O'Grady in the 1997 movie The Sixth Man. He is related to the Burdette family, Anne Burdette and Dustin Burdette are his second cousins.

[edit] Playing career

Ford began his college career at the University of Missouri in 1989. After making the Big Eight Conference All-Freshman team, Ford transferred to the University of Kentucky. After playing sparingly his sophomore year, Ford started 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 year, and was recognized as the NCAA Southeast Region MVP in the 1993 NCAA Tournament.

After an unsuccessful attempt at an NBA career, Ford was called to play the role of Danny O'Grady in the 1997 movie The Sixth Man, starring Marlon Wayans and Kadeem Hardison. While the movie received stellar reviews, Ford's acting career did not extend beyond that movie.

[edit] Coaching career

In 1997, Ford was offered a head coaching position at NAIA school Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky. Ford 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. In 5 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.

After the 2005 season, Ford accepted the head coaching position at the University of Massachusetts. Ford finished his first season at UMass with a 13-15 record, 8-8 in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Through the 2005-06 season, Ford's career coaching record stands at 141-126 (67-31 at Campbellsville, 61-80 at EKU, 13-15 at UMass).

Travis Ford, heading into the 2006-07 season at UMass, has a team with high expectations. With the elgibility of Etienne Brower, Gary Forbes, and Luke Bonner, and the addition of Tiki Mayben, a top prospect coming out of high school, and Ricky Harris, signing with UMass from the Winchendon School (Mass.)