Nine-year Division I coaching veteran and former University of Oklahoma star outfielder, Kelly Ford begins her 6th year at the helm of the Mt. SAC Softball Team.  Ford began her coaching stint with Cal State Northridge in 1992 and then assisted her former college coach Jim Beitia (now with Tennessee), for the 1993 season at Oklahoma, before returning to Northridge in 1994.  Prior to Mt. SAC, Ford coached two conference championship seasons with Cal State Fullerton, 6 conference championship seasons at Cal State Northridge and one season at University of Oklahoma.  Every team she has been associated with has been ranked in the Top 20 and has advanced to NCAA post-season play. She has carried this winning tradition to Mt. SAC.

During Coach Kelly Ford's seven years at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), the Mounties have captured 3 California Community College State Championships (03, 05, 07) and has also won six straight South Coast Conference and five Regional Championship titles. For has personally captured South Coast Conference (SCC) Coach of the Year Honors 4 times (03, 05, 07, 08) and has twice been named SCC All-Sports Coach of the Year (03, 07).

Her athletes have garnered numerous accolades including: 47 All Conference selections, 17 All State, 9 All State Tournament team, 14 All American, and 17 All Southern California award winners. 

The 2003 season was especially magical as she lead the Mounties to their first State Championship Title and first State Player of the Year Award Winner, Marcel Torres. Ford led the Mounties to their second State Championship in 2005 and recorded the team’s best season record of 46-4 which included Mt. SAC’s Spring Athlete of the Year, Heather Slettvet, 3 Easton All Americans and the team being rewarded as the Easton Team of the Year. 2007 was another banner year as the Mounties put together another state championship season with a record of 53 and 3 (new Mt. SAC Record) and infielder Francesca Gonzales being named the State Player of the Year.

Coach Ford has sent over 50 players on to play softball at various 4 year universities including: Long Beach State, Fresno State, Cal State Fullerton, University of Nebraska, Kansas University, Oregon State, as well as many others.  Coach Ford has also sent one player directly to the Softball Pro League.

As a player, Ford competed two seasons at Oklahoma University and earned Academic All-American honors after transferring from Central Arizona College, where she was a member of two NJCAA National Championship squads (’88, ’89) and helped lead the team to a 125-9 record over that span. She earned First Team All-Conference honors and was named a Scholastic All-American.

Outside of her collegiate coaching duties, Ford has worked with the Amateur Softball Association for four years.  She has traveled throughout the country putting on coaching clinics and has directed the ASA’s Youth Championship Camp Series. For the past nine years, she has run local camps throughout Southern California.  Ford is also involved in the National Fast pitch Coaches Association and has just finished a four-year term as an Executive Board Member.  She is the Co-President for the California Community College Fast Pitch Coaches Association.

Ford was born and raised Portland, Oregon and was a two-time All-State selection in high school softball and basketball while lettering four years in both sports, as well as lettering three years in volleyball.  She received her Master’s Degree from Azusa Pacific University in Physical Education, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Updated 05/06/08