Matt Ford will join The University of Akron baseball coaching staff for the 2012 season after spending the previous 10 years pitching professionally, including one full year as a major leaguer with the Milwaukee Brewers.

A High School All-American at J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Fla., Ford was selected in the third round of the 1999 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ford spent the next three summers as one of the top pitching prospects in the Blue Jays organization posting a 2.42 ERA with the single A Charleston Alley Cats in 2001 and a 2.37 ERA with the single high-A Dunedin Blue Jays in 2002.

Ford was selected by the Brewers in the Rule V Draft prior to the 2003 season and would pitch in 25 games for the MLB club in 2003. He completed the season with a 2.15 ERA in 21 relief appearances and pitched 43.2 innings.

Ford then spent the 2004 and part of the 2005 season with the Brewers double-A affiliate Huntsville Stars, where he continued to be ranked one of the clubs best minor league pitching prospects. He then moved to the Kansas City Royals organization in the middle of the 2005 season and played at the triple-A Omaha Royals. Ford was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Twins and spent the 2006 season at the triple-A Rochester Red Wings. Ford would go on to sign with the Colorado Rockies in 2007.

Ford played for the indepent Bridgeport Bluefish and York Revolution in 2007 and 2008, before playing the 2009 seasons with Caribes de Anzoategui of the Venezuelan League.

Ford spent his off seasons from professional ball mentoring youth and high school pitchers in his home state. Most recently Ford was the assistant coach at West Broward High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. where he worked with the pitching staff from 2008-11. He also spent time in a similar role at both Chaminade Madonna High School in Hollywood, Fla. and his alma mater, J.P. Taravella High School. Ford was also the owner and operator of the South Florida Pitching Academy, where he worked with pitchers aged 12-18. All told, Ford has had a hand in the development of four future MLB draft picks.

Ford and his wife, Dana, have been married for three years. He received his degree from Trinity University.