A former University of Pacific assistant men’s basketball coach and current assistant at the University of Idaho is being investigated by an outside and independent investigator for a possible inappropriate relationship between the coach and a Pacific female student-athlete, according to CBS Sports.
Joe Ford, who spent the previous five seasons on the Pacific staff and who played at Pacific, was hired by Idaho as an assistant coach over the summer.
The Idaho athletic department released a statement Friday saying it conducted a background check of Ford and contacted Pacific officials before it offered the assistant coaching job to Ford. The statement said the background check and reference calls did not cause concern.
Ford was placed on administrative leave.
Garrett Cabeza can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @CabezaGarrett