Football
- Title:
- Assistant Head Coach / Running Backs
- Hometown:
- Gary, Ind.
- Year at Mizzou:
- 19th Season
- Alma Mater:
- Toledo, 1991
- Email:
- fordc@missouri.edu
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THE FORD FILE
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COACHING EXPERIENCE
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| 2016-Pres. 2004-2015 |
Asst. Head Coach/Running Backs, Missouri Cornerbacks, Missouri |
| 2001-2003 | Outside Safeties, Missouri |
| 1996-00 | Receivers, Toledo |
| 1996 |
Recruiting Coordinator, Toledo |
| 1993-95 | QB/RB/WR, Marietta College |
| 1991-92 | Graduate Assistant, Toledo |
| 1988-90 | Freshman Coach, Maumee (OH) HS |
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FORD'S ALL-CONFERENCE PERFORMERS
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Cornell Ford has coached 18 seasons at Mizzou and the 2019 campaign will be his fourth with the title of assistant head coach and working with the Tiger running backs. Ford’s backfield continued to shine for the Tiger offense in 2018, as his top trio of backs combined to rush for 2,362 yards and 20 touchdowns, while averaging a healthy 5.1 yards per carry. The three-headed monster which included sophomore Larry Rountree III, junior Damarea Crockett and true freshman Tyler Badie was the second-most productive trio in the run-heavy Southeastern Conference, trailing only the top three backs from Georgia. Perhaps most impressive was the fact that no Tiger running back lost a fumble during the 2018 season, an impressive feat which includes a grand total of 499 offensive touches by his unit in 13 games.
Rountree followed his outstanding freshman season by reaching the 1,000-yard mark in 2018. He led the Tigers and ranked fourth in the SEC (22nd in the nation) with his 1,216 yards, while his 11 rushing scores was seventh-best in the league. Rountree closed the year by rushing for 204 yards and a touchdown (averaging 7.6 yards a carry) in the 2018 Liberty Bowl against Oklahoma State. That total marked only the second time in MU history a Tiger has broke the 200-yard barrier in post-season play, and his season rushing total was the third-best ever by a Mizzou running back (fifth-best overall).
Through 2018, Rountree's 1,919 career rushing yards are the most-ever in Mizzou history by a Tiger running back through the first two seasons, and are the second-most overall among all players (former QB Brad Smith had 2,435 rushing yards through his first two seasons in 2002-03).
Crockett finished the regular season with 709 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, with one receiving score added, and he was on the verge of a second 1,000-yard season, only to get held back in the final month with an ankle injury that cost him the final three games. Joining in on the fun in 2018 was true freshman Tyler Badie, who impressed immediately during fall training camp, and earned playing time right away. Badie came through with 809 all-purpose yards on the season, which was third-best on the team, thanks to his 437 rushing yards (two rushing TDs), 242 kickoff return yards (averaging 22.0 yards per attempt) and 130 receiving yards out of the backfield (most among Tiger running backs). Badie was named to the SEC Coaches Freshman All-SEC team, marking the third-straight year that Ford has put a freshman on that squad.
The 2017 season also saw outstanding production for Ford's backfield, with his top three backs combining to rush for 2,233 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards a carry. But it didn’t all quite go according to plan, as sophomore Crockett – a 1,000-yard rusher as a true freshman in 2016 – was lost for the regular season in game six due to a shoulder injury at Georgia that required arthroscopic repair.
Ford adjusted nicely, however, and got veteran Ish Witter ready to carry the load, and the senior turned in the best results of his career. Witter ran for 1,049 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry to lead the way. His play down the stretch was crucial in wins over Tennessee (216 yards, 1 touchdown), Vanderbilt (102) and Arkansas (170, 1 TD) as he turned in three-straight outings of 100 yards or more for the first time in his career.
Another exciting freshman came to the front under Ford’s direction, in the way of Rountree, who ran for 703 yards and six scores while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Rountree gained more reps as the season went on, and he contributed some highlight reel plays, highlighted by a career-best 155 yards against Tennessee, as the Tigers rolled up 433 yards on the ground in MU’s 50-17 win.
The 2016 season saw Ford switch to the offensive staff, and his first season mentoring the backfield couldn’t have gone better, as his backs were a key reason why Mizzou’s offense was one of the nation’s most improved.
True freshman Crockett burst onto the scene and broke Mizzou freshman records for rushing yards in a season (1,062), and in a game (225 vs. Tennessee) while also setting MU frosh records for season touchdowns (10) and single-game touchdowns (4). Crockett’s 96.5 yards-per-game average led the nation’s freshmen in the regular season. He was joined by Witter, who continued his steady improvement by rushing for a solid 750 yards and six touchdowns.
Before working with the running backs, Ford spent 12 years coaching the Tiger cornerbacks, after he focused on MU’s outside safeties his first three years.
Mizzou’s defense was a key to its 2014 SEC Eastern Division title run, and the pass defense supplied by Ford’s secondary played a big role. His corners contributed to a defense which ranked second in the SEC in pass defense (185.8 yds/game) in league games. Led by sophomore Aarion Penton, who had three interceptions, Ford’s corners accounted for 23 pass break ups combined, including a team-best 10 from Penton and nine from JUCO transfer Kenya Dennis in his first year with the Tigers.
Mizzou’s secondary was one of the most impactful in the nation in 2013, as the Tigers led the SEC and ranked fifth nationally with 20 interceptions. Ford’s corners tallied nine of those picks, including five by senior E.J. Gaines, who won First-Team All-SEC honors. Fellow senior Randy Ponder had a pair of interceptions, and freshmen Aarion Penton and John Gibson both grabbed one apiece, and gained valuable experience that bodes well for the future when Gaines was lost for two games to a leg injury sustained in a win at seventh-ranked Georgia that October.
Gaines became the highest drafted Mizzou cornerback since 1983 when he was selected in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.
In 2011, Ford oversaw the development of Gaines into one of the nation’s top young cover men. Gaines set a Mizzou record with 16 pass break ups in his first year as a starter, and tied for fifth nationally with 18 passes defended overall (including two interceptions). Gaines had a solid junior season in 2012, when he made 74 tackles, and led the Tigers with 11 pass breakups.
Both of Ford’s starting cornerbacks earned All-Big 12 status for three straight seasons (2008-10), including Carl Gettis and Kevin Rutland both in 2009 and 2010. The Tiger pass defense was a large reason for Mizzou’s much-improved play in 2010, as MU led the Big 12 and ranked 6th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 16.08 points per game. The Tigers also ranked 11th nationally in pass efficiency defense, with an opponent passer rating of 108.45.
Rutland’s development earned him an invitation to the 2011 NFL Combine, and while he went undrafted, he was signed immediately by Jacksonville, and in the 2011 season made his first career NFL start for the Jaguars.
In 2009, Gettis and Rutland were named honorable mention all-league by league coaches for their play. Gettis ranked sixth on the team in 2009 with 61 tackles, and led the team with 5 pass break ups, to go with having a hand in four turnovers in his third year as a starter. Rutland, in his first year as a starter, developed into MU’s top corner, as he won honorable-mention all-league status and was named the team’s cornerback of the year for his season, which included 47 tackles and a team-high two interceptions.
Both of Ford’s starting cornerbacks earned All-Big 12 mention in 2008, with senior Castine Bridges and sophomore Carl Gettis winning honorable mention all-league acclaim for their play on the Tigers’ 10-4 squad. Gettis further established himself as one of the top young defensive backs in the Big 12 Conference as he ranked fifth on the Tiger squad with 78 tackles, four pass break ups and one interception. Bridges closed out his Tiger career with 69 tackles and one interception, plus a team-high seven pass break ups.
Mizzou’s cornerbacks turned in a solid 2007 season overall, and were a definite reason that the Tiger defense was one of the best in the Big 12 Conference. True freshman Carl Gettis blossomed under Ford’s coaching, as he became a starter early in the year and eventually won second-Team Freshman All-American honors for his play. Senior Darnell Terrell was invited to the NFL Combine in the off-season, and later signed a free-agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.
The Tiger secondary was instrumental in MU’s defensive improvement in 2006, and Ford’s cornerbacks were a big reason why. Led by junior Darnell Terrell, who earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from league coaches, the Tigers ranked second in the Big 12 Conference, and 37th nationally, in pass defense, permitting 185.69 yards per game on average. That fact was even more impressive, considering that sophomore starting CB Domonique Johnson missed five games due to a knee injury midway through the season.
After losing his top performer from 2004 in Shirdonya Mitchell, Ford helped develop his cornerback unit into one that was dependable and steady in 2005. Mizzou ended the 2005 regular season ranking fourth in the Big 12 in pass defense, allowing an average of 212.55 yards per game.
Senior Marcus King blossomed into a big-play performer for the Tiger secondary in 2005, as he led the team with a career-high 13 passes broken up – including a record-breaking 99-yard interception return for a TD in the Independence Bowl win. King earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors by both league coaches and media for his efforts, and he teamed with fellow senior A.J. Kincade to give the Tigers a dependable tandem. King later went on to earn a free agent contract with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys following the 2006 NFL Draft, and another Ford protégé, Calvin Washington, was invited to the rookie minicamp with Washington following the draft as well.
Just about every one of Ford’s cornerbacks had career years under his coaching in 2004, and that performance was instrumental in Mizzou’s substantial improvement in defense. Thanks in large part to his cornerbacks, Mizzou led the Big 12 Conference, and ranked third nationally in pass defense in 2004, allowing an average of just 149.27 yards per game. His corners grabbed eight of MU’s 15 interceptions in 2004, which was a nice team improvement from a total of nine in 2003 (including three from cornerbacks that year).
Senior Shirdonya Mitchell blossomed into a high-level cornerback in 2004 under Ford’s direction, as he ranked fifth in the Big 12 Conference, and 33rd nationally, with his four interceptions. Mitchell earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors for his play, in only his second year playing defense, and signed a two-year free agent deal with the Miami Dolphins following the 2005 NFL Draft. Juniors Marcus King and A.J. Kincade also had big years, as King tied for the team lead with four turnovers gained (two interceptions and two fumbles) and led the team with seven pass break ups, while Kincade had a career-high two interceptions, including a game-winning pickoff in overtime of the season finale at Iowa State.
In addition to his coaching duties, Ford has worked hard to earn a reputation as one of the most well-trusted recruiting presences in his area of St. Louis. His hard work and straightforward approach has paid off recently, as he has successfully attracted stars such as Will Franklin, Jeremy Maclin and 2008 signees Blaine Gabbert and Wes Kemp to Mizzou. In 2009, he landed Gateway Tech superstar Sheldon Richardson, who was one of the nation’s top overall prospects, and this past February, MU signed a class which ranked 21st-best in the nation according to Rivals.com, and that was the highest ranking ever for a Tiger recruiting class. Ford was also successful in getting Missouri’s foot in the door in other St. Louis schools where there hadn’t been much Tiger success in recent years.
Ford spent five seasons at Toledo coaching the wide receivers. Toledo graduate Mel Long pulled in 175 receptions in his four-year career, 21 of those for touchdowns. He also held the longest active streak in NCAA Division I for consecutive games with a reception. Under Ford, Long became Toledo’s all-time leading receiver.
Before Toledo, Ford coached at Marietta College where he coached the quarterbacks, running backs and receivers, while also serving as the team’s strength and conditioning coach. Marietta led the conference in rushing offense in 1994 and 1995 and owned the league’s top running back both seasons.
Prior to joining the Marietta staff, Ford served two seasons as a graduate assistant at Toledo. He helped with the offensive line in 1992 and the secondary in 1991.
Ford holds a bachelor’s degree (1991) in physical education and a master’s degree (1993) in sports administration from Toledo. He and his wife, Dawn, are the parents of a son, Devin, and a daughter, Taylor.
