Matt Ford completed his first season as Valpo's tight ends coach in 2017.

The program enjoyed its first winning season since 2003 in Ford's first year on staff. 

Ford came to the Crusaders after spending the 2016 season as the tight ends coach at Franklin & Marshall College. He helped guide the Diplomats to a 7-4 overall record and 6-3 conference mark.

A standout offensive lineman during his playing days at Lehigh, Ford competed for a Mountain Hawks coaching staff that featured current Valpo head coach Dave Cecchini and current Valpo assistant coaches Jason Miran and Vinny Giacalone.

Ford received first-team all-Patriot League honors as a senior in 2015, when he served as a team captain for Lehigh. He started all 11 games in both his junior and senior seasons. The Wall, N.J. native earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in accounting during his time at Lehigh.