Missouri State fires basketball coach Dana Ford after six seasons, no NCAA tourney bids

Published Mar. 11, 2024 1:36 p.m. ET

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Missouri State fired coach Dana Ford on Monday after six seasons without an NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Bears were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Tournament last week, giving them a 17-16 record. It was their fifth winning season under Ford, but their only postseason trip was a first-round loss in the NIT two years ago.

Missouri State has not made the NCAA tourney since 1999, when it reached the Sweet 16 as a No. 12 seed.

Ford took over in 2018 after four seasons at Tennessee State, which included a 20-win season in 2016. He was 106-82 at Missouri State and 64-48 in Missouri Valley games, giving him a career record of 163-146 as a head coach.

Missouri State athletic director Kyle Moats said a search for Ford's replacement would begin immediately.

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