INDIANAPOLIS - On Friday June 30, Marian men's golf head coach Stephen Ford announced his resignation from his position at Marian University. Ford, a member of the Marian Athletics Hall of Fame, served as the head coach for nine years after being hired on June 27, 2014. 

"I have truly enjoyed my time over the past nine years helping mold young men into hard workers and great leaders through the game of golf," said Ford. "The coaches, alumni, players, and families of Marian golf are what make me want to continue, but my family comes first and my next chapter will be focusing on them. I thank everyone for the support over my time here and I will be a huge KnightsGolf fan moving forward.

I won't be far away! Go Knights!"

Ford began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2014, taking over as the second head coach in program history. In his nine seasons, Ford coached one NAIA All-American, one Crossroads League Player of the Year, one Crossroads League Newcomer of the Year, two Crossroads League Medalists, and 24 All-Crossroads League honorees. The Knights also set five records under Ford's tutelage, with the 2019 team breaking the 36-hole record, while Jay Williams twice set the 54-hole record and tied the 72-hole mark. Brad Sprinkle also broke the 36-hole mark, and Weston Ogden set a new mark this past season for 18 holes. Ford's teams won two Crossroads League Championships, winning the league in his first and final season. Coach Ford was named the Crossroads League Coach of the Year in both the 2014-15 and 2022-23 seasons.

The Knights saw their highest success rates on the course under Ford in the latter years of his tenure as head coach, culminating in Marian's 2023 Crossroads League Tournament Championship. This past season, Luke Beetz was named the Crossroads League Newcomer of the Year, with Brandon Heffner winning the Crossroads League Tournament to cap Marian's first team championship since 2015. Jay Williams became Marian's first NAIA All-American in the 2022 season since Trey Pfund's honor in 2013, with Ford guiding Williams to the school's 54-hole and 72 hole records in the 2022 season. Williams also earned Crossroads League Medalist honors along with the Player of the Year honors in 2022. 

As a member of the men's golf team at Marian from 2003-07, Ford was a three-time Mid-Central College Conference honoree (Crossroads League), tournament individual medalist and earned NAIA All-America honors in 2006-07. He was the 2006-07 NAIA Region VIII Tournament individual medalist, was a four-time NAIA All-Region VIII selection and was a four-time All-MCC selection.

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