Former Missouri State head coach Dana Ford hired to be assistant at SMU

Former Missouri State head men's basketball coach Dana Ford will become an assistant at Southern Methodist, the school announced on Thursday afternoon.

Ford joins Andy Enfield's staff at SMU as the school is set to join the ACC this upcoming season. Enfield took the job after departing Southern California on April 1.

Ford was fired as Missouri State's head coach at the end of the 2023-24 season after going 106-82 in six years. The Bears finished 17-16 overall this past season with a ninth-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference standings.

He had one year remaining on his contract and will be due a buyout of around $180,000.

In the days after Ford's dismissal from MSU, he made a radio appearance and indicated he would have to choose between being a non-power conference head coach or an assistant at a bigger school. He is headed toward the latter.

Despite failing to lead Missouri State to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999 during his time in charge, Ford has often been touted for his recruiting prowess. He helped MSU land the likes of Isiaih Mosley, Gaige Prim and DeMarcus Sharp who were either highly-touted high school or junior college prospects when choosing MSU.

Missouri State has since hired Cuonzo Martin to a five-year deal to be the Bears' head coach.

Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL.