Little Rock introduced Travis Ford as the 24th head coach of its men’s basketball program on March 31 at the Jack Stephens Center.
Ford, who has nearly 500 career victories and is known for building successful programs, said he was drawn to Little Rock after learning more about the school. “The more I learned about Little Rock, the more I realized this is a place we can win — and win big,” Ford said.
Director of Athletics Frank M. Cuervo said that a comprehensive national search led them to select Ford. “We set out to find a leader who shares our values, prioritizes relationships and has a proven record of success,” Cuervo said. “After an extensive search, all roads led us to Travis Ford. He’s not only an outstanding basketball coach — he’s an even better person.”
Chancellor Christina Drale commented on the broader significance of hiring Ford for both athletics and academics. “Simply put, Coach Ford is a leader who understands how to build and sustain a strong program in a way that reflects positively on the institution he represents,” Drale said. “This hire reflects our commitment to competing at a high level while ensuring the total success of our student-athletes — both academically and competitively.”
Cuervo also outlined goals for academic achievement, community engagement, and competitive excellence: “We want to excel in the classroom, engage this community like never before and relentlessly pursue excellence in competition,” he said.
Ford described his coaching approach as energetic and aggressive: “We’re going to play fast, we’re going to be aggressive and we’re going to make it tough on teams every single night,” he said.
He also encouraged fans’ support from day one: “I want this arena packed from day one,” Ford said. “Don’t wait — these players deserve that energy right now. This is your team, and we want this community to be part of everything we’re building.” Looking ahead, Ford added: “The possibilities here are endless… If we come together — our players, our staff and this community — we’re going to build something special.”
