ITHACA, N.Y. -- Tom Ford, the Ted Thoren Head Coach of Baseball, has stepped away from his current position and into the associate head coach role following 18 years of dedicated service to the Big Red. He will continue to serve Cornell players as a coach and mentor and will provide continuity in the transition to new leadership. In 2005, Ford led Cornell to its first-ever Gehrig Division title qualifying the Big Red to compete against Rolfe Division champion Harvard for the Ivy League crown.
"Tom is held in the highest regard by his colleagues inside the Cornell athletics department and by those with whom he has competed over the years," said Andy Noel, the Meakem*Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education in expressing his heartfelt appreciation for Ford's service to Cornell. "His program has earned the respect of Ivy and non-league opponents alike and he will undoubtedly continue this legacy in his new role. It is not the least bit surprising that Tom has decided to move in a direction that he believes will maximize the opportunity for Cornell baseball to advance in the years ahead."
"I feel fortunate to have served as Cornell's head coach for the past 18 years and look forward to assisting a new head coach as we move forward," Ford said. "Working with the outstanding young men who have played for us over the last 18 years has been very rewarding."
The opening for the vacant head coaching position will be posted immediately and is expected to attract the attention of a broad and diverse pool of candidates. Highly qualified coaches will be recruited to the pool with the goal of having a new coach on campus to welcome freshmen and returning players in August. The Big Red is slated to begin fall practice in early September.