Ford named Idaho's 37th head football coach

MOSCOW, Idaho Idaho Director of Athletics Terry Gawlik announced the appointment of former Vandal assistant Thomas Ford as the 37th head football coach in Idaho football history, pending approval by the Idaho State Board of Education and all university human resources procedures.

“First, I want to thank my wife Shannon and my children for being the support system that most people dream of,” said Ford. “I would also like to thank Terry Gawlik and Scott Green for the great opportunity they provided. I couldn't be more excited to come back to the Palouse. This place is truly special and I want to continue the standard of excellence set by Coach Eck. We're going to be aggressive in everything we do, schematically on offense, defense and special teams and especially in recruiting. We're going to continue to bring in high character athletes that will help us take the program to the next one to bring level

“I can't wait to get back home and get started!”

Ford spent the 2024 season as running backs coach at Oregon State University. In 2024, Oregon State's rushing attack produced 2,270 yards, led by Anthony Hankerson, who had 1,082 yards and 15 touchdowns.

He spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as Idaho's special teams coordinator and running backs coach. Under Ford, Idaho's special teams and running back units were among the best in the FCS.

By 2023, Anthony Bos ran for 1,155 yards and 16 touchdowns, leading an effort that saw Idaho rush for 2,077 yards and 22 TDs and 2,057 yards and 22 TDs in 2022.

Two players who played on special teams under Ford, long snapper Hogan Hatten and returner Jermaine Jacksonearned NFL Roster spots in 2024.

Ford leveraged his connections in the Pacific Northwest to establish Idaho as a destination of choice for recruits in the I5 corridor. Dozens of players have come to Idaho from Western Washington and the Portland area because of connections to the Idaho staff founded by Ford.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Ford, his wife Shannon and their children Zoey and Kingston back to Moscow,” said Gawlik. “During our interview process, it was clear that Thomas is the man who will lead Vandal football into the future. He knows what it takes to win in Idaho. He is an elite recruiter who has been instrumental in laying of the basis for our recent success. We are.” We are confident in the future of Vandal football and look forward to working with Coach Ford and his staff.”

Prior to his time at Idaho, Ford was a quality control analyst at the University of Washington for two years

He spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons as head coach at Simon Frasier University, an NCAA DII school in British Columbia. He led SFU to their first win in four seasons and was named the 2018 GNAC Coach of the Year.

Before his time at SFU, he was the head coach at Stadium High in Tacoma from 2014-2017. He took an 0-10 team that hadn't experienced a winning season in more than two decades, and to the 2016 and 2017 playoffs.

He was the defensive coordinator at the University of Puget Sound during the 2013 season. Ford's defense improved in nearly every statistical category, finishing second in the Northwest Conference and 35th nationally in fumble recoveries.

From 2009 to 2012, he served as Wide Receivers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator at SE Oklahoma State. He coached Running Backs at Linfield from 2007-2008.

He played running back and track at Linfield College in Oregon. Ford set the Wildcats' single-game rushing record in 2003 (237 yards against Redlands). Linfield was 41-4 during Ford's playing career. He still ranks fifth all-time on the career rushing list with 2,333 yards. Ford was a two-time Northwest Conference All-Star, a member of four consecutive Northwest Conference championship teams and team captain of Linfield's 2004 NCAA Division III national title team, which was inducted into the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

He played professional indoor soccer for four years and won a National Indoor Football League championship with Tri-Cities Fever in 2005.

Ford and his wife Shannon have two children, a daughter Zoey and son Kingston.

An introductory press conference will be held as soon as possible.