UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (June 10, 2004) - Penn State pitching coach Randy Ford has announced that he has accepted the head baseball coaching position at Western Michigan University.

Ford, who spent 16 years as an assistant coach with the Nittany Lions, returns to coach at his alma mater. Ford replaces long-time Broncos coach Fred Decker, whom Ford also played under and served as an assistant for four years before coming to Penn State in 1988.

"I would like to thank Randy from the entire Penn State athletics family for the 14 years he spent with me as my assistant," said Penn State head coach Joe Hindelang. "His tenure here as a teacher-coach has been distinguished. He's going back to coach at his alma mater and to follow in the footsteps of his mentor Fred Decker, who is well respected nationally. I don't know how many former players have a chance to coach at their alma mater following in their coach's footsteps. We all wish him the best of luck."

Ford helped the Nittany Lions reach the postseason seven times in his 16 years - including a Super Regional appearance in 2000 - and helped them make the jump into the Big Ten Conference in 1992. Fifty players have been drafted under Ford's tutelage, including current Florida Marlin Nate Bump and, most recently, Clayton Hamilton and Aaron Tressler.

"Penn State was certainly a wonderful place to work and a wonderful place to raise a family," said Ford. "It gave me an opportunity to do many things in the coaching relm. I learned a lot of things because I was given the opportunity by coach Hindelang. I greatly appreciate his help in my development, as well as the opportunity that the Penn State administration gave me. It's a hard thing to move away from after all those years, but to be able to be a coach at one of the two schools that I love is a wonderful thing. I look forward to the challenge at Western Michigan and to see what I can do with my own program."

A native of Morenci, Mich., Ford walked onto the Western Michigan baseball team as a left-handed pitcher and earned three letters from 1977-79. In 1979, Ford was selected in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. Ford spent four seasons in professional baseball before returning to his alma mater in 1983.

"He's going to do a class job on the field and in making a difference in his players' lives. After 16 years here and whats he's been through, he's ready for it. I'm happy for him," added Hindelang. Decker ended his career with 791 wins and 401 Mid-American Conference victories. Decker won more league games than any other coach in MAC history. Decker retired following the 2004 season after 29 seasons in the program.

For more information on Penn State baseball, please visit our official athletic website at www.GoPSUsports.com.