Dr. Ricky Ford
Dr. Ricky Ford
Title: President
City: Booneville
State: MS
ZIP Code: 38829
Phone: 662-720-7226
Email: rgford@nemcc.edu

Dr. Ricky Ford was selected as the tenth president in the history of Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2015. 

Ford is now in his eighth year of leading the institution that he originally came to as a student-athlete in 1973 and later returned to as head women’s basketball coach in 1981. 

Northeast has made tremendous strides with Ford’s “Grow Northeast” campaign, especially in the realm of technology. The college’s 1:1 iPad initiative has saved students thousands of dollars in textbook fees since it was implemented in 2018. 

Ford’s vision of having a physical presence in each county inside Northeast’s traditional district, including Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union, is complete. 

The Northeast at Iuka center opened to the public inside the Tri State Industrial Park in August 2016. Construction on the Ripley extension, which was named Bobby P. Martin Hall, wrapped up in early 2021. 

Historic Cunningham Boulevard received a facelift with new crosswalks in 2017 thanks in part to a partnership with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). The renovation of sidewalks, crosswalks and parking lots on the remainder of the Booneville campus continues. 

Northeast was designated as an Apple Distinguished School under Ford’s leadership. It is now one of only eight higher education institutions in the entire world to hold this prestigious recognition. 

Ford also headed the effort to build a brand-new, multi-million dollar baseball and softball complex on campus. The Plex officially opened before a capacity crowd on February 1, 2020. 

The next project that Ford has envisioned is the “Game, Set, Match” campaign. The goal is to build a state-of-the-art facility for the men’s and women’s tennis programs next to Tiger Stadium and across Coach Bill Ward Drive from the The Plex. 

The Pine Grove native has served Northeast as executive vice president, dean of student services and athletic director over the past decade. However, basketball fans across Hill Country will always remember Ford for his role in building the Lady Tigers into a national powerhouse. 

Ford’s legacy as a coach will forever be celebrated after the playing surface inside legendary Bonner Arnold Coliseum was renamed the “Ricky G. Ford Court” during a special ceremony on November 27, 2018. 

He is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) and Northeast Sports Halls of Fame. 

Ford accumulated an overall record of 588-226 for a winning percentage of .722 during 30 years at the helm of the Lady Tigers. He had winning seasons 25 times, including 21 straight to begin his career in the City of Hospitality. 

He captured 15 MACCC North Division titles, nine state championships and three NJCAA Region 23 crowns while commanding Northeast from 1981-2011. 

Ford's run at the pinnacle of not just the state of Mississippi, but the entire country began in earnest during the 1984-85 campaign when the Lady Tigers secured their first state championship since 1951. 

Northeast raced through the regular season unbeaten one year later before winning the MACCC Tournament. The Lady Tigers went on to beat Northwest Mississippi Community College in its own gymnasium to clinch Ford's inaugural berth to the NJCAA National Tournament. 

The Lady Tigers continued their success and moved into the national championship contest against Odessa (Texas) Junior College. The Lady Wranglers put a wrinkle into Northeast's plans for perfection, though, with an 80-69 win in the title tilt. 

However, Ford and the Lady Tigers found themselves right back at the NJCAA National Tournament the following season and in the same identical circumstances with divisional, state and regional crowns in tow and an undefeated campaign once again on the line. 

This time Northeast got the job done by winning what is still its only national title in any sport. Ford and his team celebrated a flawless 34-0 year with a 68-64 victory over St. Gregory's (Okla.) College in the 1987 championship game. 

Ford returned to the NJCAA National Tournament for the last time during the 2005-06 season. His Lady Tigers pieced together a 24-6 overall record and with another NJCAA Region 23 crown finished at No. 21 in the final countrywide rankings after their trip to the Bicentennial Center in Salina, Kan. 

He instructed 10 NJCAA All-Americans and sent dozens of student-athletes to the four-year level at locations such as Auburn (Ala.) University, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Memphis (Tenn.), the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and Mississippi State University. 

Ford played for the men's basketball program at Northeast himself from 1973-75 under the watch of another legendary Hall of Fame instructor in Kenneth Lindsey. 

He and his wife LuAnne have four children, Aaron, Lauren, Suzanne and Ben, and nine grandchildren. Ford earned an Associate’s degree from Northeast, a Bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State, a Master’s degree from Ole Miss and a Doctorate degree from Christ’s (Fla.) College.