The athletic department is expected to name current assistant coach Geno Ford as the new men’s basketball coach at an 11 a.m. press conference.

The Associated Press, citing an anonymous source, reported late yesterday afternoon that Ford would be named to replace Jim Christian, who left Kent State for Texas Christian University over the weekend.

Laing Kennedy, Kent State director of athletics, did not comment about the coaching vacancy when asked late yesterday afternoon.

In a statement released earlier this week, however, Ford said he had spoken with Kennedy.

“Right now the main focus for me and the rest of the coaching staff is to center on the student athletes and keep them on course academically as the program goes through a transition phase,” Ford said in the statement. “I spoke with Mr. Kennedy and we will meet again in the coming weeks. Obviously, it’s an honor to be considered for the position.”

Ford returned to Kent State for the 2007-08 season to serve as Christian’s top assistant after spending the previous two seasons as coach of Muskingum College. He also was an assistant at Kent State from 2002-05.

In three seasons as head coach with other Ohio Programs – two with Muskingum and one with Shawnee State – Ford has a 51-32 record. He led Shawnee State to a 22-10 record in 2001-02 and was named American Mideast Conference Coach of the Year.

Ford also was an assistant at Ohio University, his alma mater, from 1998-2001. He ranks fifth on the Bobcats’ career scoring list with 1,752 points.

The Ohio Associated Press named Ford its “Mr. Basketball” in 1993, his senior season at Cambridge High School.

Contact sports reporter Doug Gulasy at [email protected].