BUFORD — Buford has landed one of the biggest fishes in the coaching pool with Monday's announcement that the Wolves have hired Roswell coach John Ford to be the program's 11th head coach.
Ford is coming off back-to-back 14-1 records and two state runner-up finishes in the state's largest classifications. He guided the Hornets to the Class AAAAAA title game (losing to Colquitt County) and then lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Grayson last month in the new Class AAAAAAA.
“I am thrilled, honored, and excited to have the opportunity to join the staff at Buford High School,” Ford said. “I am humbled that I get to be the steward of something so special as Buford football.”
“The Buford City School District is thrilled to have John Ford join our coaching and teaching staff,” Buford City Schools superintendent Geye Hamby said in a school release. “He is an excellent teacher and will bring tremendous leadership to our young men in the football program. We look forward to a very bright future with John leading the Buford High School football program.”
Buford is coming off a 13-2 season and a loss to Rome in the Class AAAAA state championship game. Ford is replacing Jess Simpson, who stepped down a week after the loss to Rome after 12 seasons to take a coaching job at Georgia State. Simpson guided Buford to seven state titles and 10 straight finals appearances.
“I am extremely excited about Coach Ford joining our faculty,” Buford Principal Banks Bitterman said. “It is critical that the culture that has been established by Jess Simpson at Buford High School continues to evolve in the right direction. I truly think that Coach Ford has the character, integrity and football knowledge to continue that culture of excellence. Coach Ford's philosophies are completely in line with Buford High School's vision of Triple-A Excellence. I look forward to our students’ academic and athletic success under his leadership."
Ford led Roswell the past four seasons compiling a 40-12 record. He has 14 years of coaching experience and was a member of the 1996 Brookwood state championship team. He will be joined in Buford by his wife, Anne, and their three daughters: Anna-Kate, Liza-Grace, and Adeline.
