Missouri State has a new men's basketball coach, who grew up in Saluki country.
The school introduced 33-year-old Dana Ford Thursday.
The southern Illinois native says being a head coach in the Missouri Valley Conference is ideal because he grew up in the heart of MVC country.
"I'm a country boy from Tamms, Illinois...Tamms, Illinois. 500 people. (I) grew up in a 19-foot trailer. I can't get my grandmother to move. I keep telling her, 'grandma, we can move.' She don't want to move. I'm a country boy too. This is a good fit for me."
Ford played at Illinois State and has been an assistant coach at his alma mater and at Wichita State. He takes over the Bears program after three seasons at Tennessee State.
He signed a 5-year deal worth 375-thousand dollars for the first two years and 425-thousand over the final three years.