FULLERTON, Calif. – Athletic Director Jim Donovan has announced that sixth year Cal State Fullerton head softball coach Kelly Ford has signed a three-year contract through 2020.
"Coach Ford and her staff have done a tremendous job building Titan softball into a nationally competitive program again," said Donovan. "But I believe Kelly's real key to success is the culture she has instilled in her program – with an emphasis on student-athlete character, teamwork, and uncompromising effort. We're looking forward to even more success in the years to come."
The Titans are coming off another historic season where they became back-to-back Big West champions for the first time since 2000-03. It was the program's fourth consecutive winning season and 30-win season since coach Ford took over the program in 2013. Fullerton also advanced to their 27th NCAA Tournament in the program's history.
"I'm so honored to work for this university and an athletic department that has so much support for athletics and in particular softball," said Ford. "I feel like I've surrounded myself with some incredible coaches and I want to give them the credit for really raising the bar with Titan softball. Our players have left it all out on the field and as a coach that's all you can ask for. I exude Titan pride and again, I'm just so honored to sign another contract. I'm sitting in my dream job and I'd like to thank Jim Donovan and the rest of the administration for the opportunity."
In her five years at Fullerton, coach Ford has compiled a 175-110-1 (.612) record including a 45-16 mark in 2016, which is the best season since 2002. She's led the Titans to back-to-back conference titles and regional appearances, both of which they made it to the final game. She collected her 100th Titan win February 19, 2016 against Santa Clara and led the Titans to their 1,400th and 1,500th wins in the program's rich history.
Since Ford took over, the program has seen two NFCA All-American selections (2014, 2015), two Big West Player of the Year awards (2014, 2016), one Big West Pitcher of the Year (2016), a Big West Freshman Field Player of the Year (2015), two Freshman Pitcher of the Year awards (2013, 2016), 12 NFCA All-West Region awards, and 35 players earning All-Big West honors. Coach Ford herself has also received back-to-back Big West Coach of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017.
Ford was officially announced as the program's third head coach on October 4, 2012. The 2017-18 season will be her sixth season at the helm of the Titan softball team.
Prior to joining the Titan family, Ford was the head coach at Mt. SAC for 11 years and led them to four California State Championships, seven South Coast Conference Championships, and she earned South Coast Conference Coach of the Year five times. Her success at the junior college level was rewarded this past May as she was inducted into the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Ford will continue to lead the Cal State Fullerton softball program as they look to defend their championship and become three-peat winners this upcoming season.
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