Trisha Ford Explained

Trisha Lynn Ford (née Dean; born October 19, 1977)^[1] is an American college softball coach. She is the head softball coach at the Texas A&M University, a position she has held since the 2023 season. Ford served as the head softball coach at Saint Mary's College of California from 2002 to 2003, California State University, Fresno from 2013 to 2016, and Arizona State University from 2017 to 2022.

Early life and education

Born Trisha Lynn Dean in Fremont, California. Ford graduated from American High School in Fremont.^[2] Ford then attended Saint Mary's College of California in nearby Moraga, where she graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in political science. On the Saint Mary's Gaels softball team, Ford played at infielder from 1998 to 2000 under head coach Chelle Putzer.^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

Coaching career

Saint Mary's (2001–2003)

Ford was the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Saint Mary's for the 2001 season.^[8] On November 1, 2001, Ford became interim head coach, nearly a month after the resignation of Putzer.^[9] After a 17–37 season, Saint Mary's promoted Ford to the position long term on June 6, 2002.^[10] Saint Mary's improved to 25–27 in the 2003 season.

Stanford (2004–2012)

From 2004 to 2012, Ford was assistant coach at Stanford under John Rittman.

Fresno State (2013–2016)

On June 18, 2012, Ford was announced as the new head coach of the Fresno State softball program.^[11]

Arizona State (2017–2022)

On June 15, 2016, Trisha Ford was tabbed as the head coach of the Arizona State softball program.^[12] In her first season leading the Sun Devils, the 2017 team finished 31–22, 9–15 finishing sixth in Pac-12 play and went to the NCAA Tournament. In just Ford's second season at the helm of the Sun Devil Program, the team finished 48–13 and 16–8 in Pac-12 play. They finished with their best record since 2013. They finished third in the Pac-12 standings, their first conference top three finish since 2014. She led them to a Women's College World Series in 2018, where they eventually lost to Oklahoma.^[13]

Texas A&M (2023–present)

On June 7, 2022, Trisha Ford was announced as the new head coach of the Texas A&M softball program.^{[14] [15]} She would make her coaching debut at Texas A&M on February 9, 2023, a 12-2 victory over Tarleton.^[16] Ford led the Aggies to a 35-21 record, an improvement over A&M's previous season, and brought the Aggies back into the NCAA Tournament but would go on to lose in the regional final to arch-rival Texas.

Personal life

Trisha Ford married Eddie Ford in 2005. They have two children.

External links

• Texas A&M profile
• Arizona State profile

Notes and References

1. 921058940531630080. ASUSoftball. Sun Devils, help us wish @Trisha_Ford a very happy birthday! . 19 October 2017.
2. Web site: Trisha Ford. Fresno State. GoBulldogs.com. February 23, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20160520024519/http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/trisha_ford_803117.html. May 20, 2016. live.
3. Web site: Saint Mary's College Women's Softball . www.stmarys-ca.edu:80 . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/19980214124742/http://www.stmarys-ca.edu:80/softball.html#ROSTER . 14 February 1998 . dead.
4. Web site: NCAA Statistics.
5. Web site: NCAA Statistics.
6. Web site: NCAA Statistics.
7. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20031222104505/http://smcgaels.ocsn.com:80/sports/w-softbl/mtt/dean_trisha00.html. December 22, 2003. Trisha Dean. Saint Mary's College of California. SMCGaels.com. February 23, 2019.
8. Web site: Saint Mary's College Softball, Official Athletic Site . smcgaels.collegesports.com . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050510140134/http://smcgaels.collegesports.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/wsoft_tdeanbio.html . 10 May 2005 . dead.
9. Web site: Saint Mary's Announces Trisha Dean as Interim Head Softball Coach. November 1, 2001. Saint Mary's College of California. February 23, 2019.
10. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20021108153842/http://smcgaels.ocsn.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/060602aaa.html. November 8, 2002. Saint Mary's Promotes Trisha Dean To Head Softball Coach. SMCGaels.com. 6 June 2002 . Saint Mary's College of California. February 24, 2019. live.
11. Web site: Trisha Ford Named Head Softball Coach at Fresno State . GoBulldogs.com . Fresno State Athletics . 8 February 2019.
12. Web site: Arizona State Hires Fresno State's Ford as Next Softball Coach . TheSunDevils.com . Sun Devils Athletics . 8 February 2019.
13. Web site: Trisha Ford . TheSunDevils.com . Sun Devil Athletics . 8 February 2019.
14. Web site: Trisha Ford Named Texas A&M Softball Coach . 12thman.com . Texas A&M Athletics . 16 July 2022.
15. Web site: Wilson . Dave . Texas A&M hires Arizona State's four-time conference coach of the year, Trisha Ford, as its new softball coach . ESPN . 7 June 2022 . 16 July 2022.
16. Web site: Tarleton vs Texas A&M Feb 9 2023 Box Score . 24 May 2023 . 12thman.com.