2024 NSIC Assistant Coach of the Year
Joe Ford enters his third season in 2025 as the Beaver’s Defensive Coordinator after joining the coaching staff in March 2023. Prior to BSU, Ford served as the Defensive Coordinator at the University of Sioux Falls.
In 2024, the Gang Green Defense ended the regular season ranked 1st in the NSIC in six different categories as well as finishing 9th in NCAA Division II for total defense. The team ranked first in total defense with 240.8 yards allowed per game, points per game allowed at 15.7, yards allowed per play with 4.1, sacks with 33, defensive pass efficiency at 101.8 and defensive touchdowns allowed at 19. Following the 2024 NCAA Division II Playoffs the Beavers ranked 17th in passing yards allowed, 18th in team passing efficiency defense, 19th in team sacks, 22nd in scoring defense and 24th in rushing defense.
BSU held seven opponents to under 100 yards rushing, keeping Michigan Tech at just 19 yards. The team also held Wayne State College to 42 yards and MSU Moorhead to 13. The defense also kept two teams under 40 yards through the air. The red-zone defense stopped opponents from scoring on nine occasions, stopping three field goals, grabbing two interceptions, forcing two fumbles and causing two turnovers on downs. The 2024 season concluded with eight players being named to All-NSIC teams, defensive linemen Cade Barrett, Marcus Hansen, Stephen Hoffman and cornerback Isaiah Johnson were named first-team performers. Linebackers Kam Gothard and Colton Hinrichs, along with cornerback Jamel Stone and defensive tackle Marco Cavallaro, were honored with second-team nods.
In his first year as the coordinator of the Gang Green Defense, Ford’s unit lead the NSIC in five categories after the conclusion of the 2023 regular season. The Beavers led in points per game (17.3), yards per play (4.7), sacks (31), defensive pass efficiency (101.8) and 3rd-down conversion defense (68.8% successful). Six players were as noted as All-NSIC first or second team performers. Linebackers Max Buduris and Spencer Wehr, defensive tackle Stephen Hoffman and cornerback Princeten Harris were selected as first-team selections. Safeties Jarrett Klein and Colton Herman were honored as second-teamers. Finally, defensive end Marcus Hansen was named NSIC Defensive Player of the Year.
A native of Brandon, S.D., Ford has coached at FCS level South Dakota, and NCAA DII programs at Southwest Minnesota State, St. Cloud State and Sioux Falls. He is a defensive coordinator for the third time (eight total seasons) after previous stints in the role at North Carolina-Pembroke in 2016-17 as well as with Minot State from 2007-12 and from 2020-23 with Sioux Falls. Ford was also in charge of the linebackers during his time with the Cougars.
At USF, he was part of one of the nation’s top defensive units. The Cougars went 24-10 during his three-year tenure, winning eight games each year. During the 2021 season, he was part of the staff that directed the program to its fourth NCAA DII playoff appearance.
In 2022, USF held opponents to just over 20 points per game and 286 yards per contest, forcing 15 turnovers (10 interceptions and five forced fumbles). The team posted a 34-0 shutout win over Minot State and had three other games holding the opposition to 14 or less points. The Cougars picked up a win over No. 11 Augustana on the road and closed the season with a dominating 50-6 win over Upper Iowa.
During the 2021 campaign, Sioux Falls just missed the postseason with an 8-3 season as they finished the year strong winning six of seven. In five games the Cougars held opponents to 14 or less points, allowing around 20 points per game and forcing 17 turnovers, with 12 being interceptions.
At a national level in 2019, USF ranked fourth in DII with a 260.7 yards per game allowed and 14th in scoring defense at 17.3 points allowed per game. USF also sat fifth in the final DII rankings in passing efficiency defense at 94.15. With 19 interceptions, USF ranked 10th in DII, was 12th in passing yards allowed (161.8 ypg) finished 16th against the rush (98.8 yards, 2.98 yards per carry) in DII. USF advanced to the NCAA DII playoffs that season going on the road and nearly upsetting Colorado School of Mines (24-21). Ford was also linebackers coach and Special Teams Coordinator in 2018 when USF was 7-4.
Prior to coming to USF, he was at UNC-Pembroke where he was part of a staff that directed the team to a 10-2 record in 2016 and No. 13 ranking in final AFCA poll. In 2016, UNC-Pembroke set a school record for wins with 10, including the program’s first DII playoff victory (24-21 over Valdosta State).
As an assistant coach for South Dakota (2013-14), Ford mentored Tyler Starr, who earned Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors after accumulating 71 tackles (15 tackles for loss) and nine sacks as a senior in 2013. Starr was later selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
Ford was the defensive coordinator in five of his six seasons at Minot State (2007-12). With Ford at the reigns of the defense in 2009, the Beavers registered a Dakota Athletic Conference-leading 17 interceptions and made their first playoff appearance since 2002. The following season, Minot State ranked 16th, nationally in NAIA, in scoring defense (18.4 points/game), while also posting the nation’s sixth-best sacks per game (3.0) average.
In his first four years at Minot State, the Beavers won 26 games before the school transitioned to NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in time for the 2011 campaign. Under his watch, seven defensive standouts earned all-conference honors, including three during his final season.
He began his coaching career in 2004 at SMSU as a graduate assistant, later doing post-graduate work at St. Cloud State in 2006 as the linebackers coach. He has also served several stints as a counselor for various college football camps across the country.
Ford earned a Bachelor’s degree in health from South Dakota State in 2003 and a Master’s degree in teaching physical education from St. Cloud State in 2007. He has also served as a lecturer in the Health and Human Performance Department at North Carolina-Pembroke.
He and his wife, Stephanie, have three children, Brynn, Patterson and Sullivan.
