Coachella Valley Hires Scott Ford as Assistant Coach
The Firebirds add a veteran coach with more than a decade of professional experience, including two seasons with Columbus.
The Coachella Valley Firebirds announced on July 15 that they have hired Scott Ford as an assistant coach.
Ford, 46, spent the past two seasons as an assistant with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. Before that, he coached nine seasons in the AHL, eight with the Milwaukee Admirals and one with the Chicago Wolves. During his time in Milwaukee, the Admirals won three Central Division titles, made six playoff appearances, and reached back-to-back Western Conference Finals in 2023 and 2024. Both years, cvfirebirds.com reports, Milwaukee lost to Coachella Valley.
"We're thrilled to add Scott to our coaching staff," Firebirds general manager Troy Bodie said in a statement. "He's a tremendous teacher of the game who has earned the respect of players and coaches throughout professional hockey. Scott understands what it takes to develop players, compete every day, and build a winning culture."
Ford replaces Stu Bickel, who left to become head coach of the AHL Iowa Wild, according to pacificnorthhockey.com.
Before coaching, Ford played 11 professional seasons from 2004 to 2015. He skated in 522 AHL regular season games as a defenseman with Cleveland, Providence, Bridgeport, Milwaukee, and Peoria. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound blueliner served as captain of the Admirals in 2011-12 and 2013-14.
Ford began his coaching career with Milwaukee in 2015-16 under then-head coach Dean Evason. After one season with Chicago in 2020-21, he returned to Milwaukee for three more years before joining Columbus in 2024.
"I'm incredibly excited to join the Firebirds organization," Ford said. "This is a first-class organization."
