NCAA Basketball: 10 most unappreciated head coaches in 2022
By Joey Loose
10. Travis Ford – Saint Louis
When we’re talking about underrated coaches, we’re talking specifically about who is underrated based on today’s perceptions of the college basketball world. What that means is that we aren’t just looking at what a coach has done last year or the year before, but perhaps even their whole body of work as a way of flying under the radar. While he’s not exactly been a superstar, Ford certainly qualifies under that definition.
Ford has been successful in each of his four D1 head coaching posts, leading Eastern Kentucky to an NCAA Tournament appearance and rebuilding success at UMass. Across eight years at Oklahoma State, Ford led the Cowboys to five NCAA Tournaments, which is certainly more consistent success than that program is currently experiencing. Since arriving at Saint Louis in 2016, he’s efficiently rebuilt and revived a program that Jim Crews left in the dumps.
The Billikens have had to settle for NIT bids the last two seasons, but have finished four of the last five seasons as a top 5 team in a tough A-10. More consistent success will be expected for the Billikens, especially with what they’ve got coming back this upcoming season, but there’s no denying that Ford has done some great work in his coaching career. Maybe he’s just one deep Tourney run away from getting the praise he deserves.