"ravis Ford is one of the brightest players I coached in 30 years. He was a true coach on the floor. He did a tremendous job in taking a program that had not consistently won and improved it each year he was there. He got his team to the NCAA Tournament in 2004-05 and played one of the giants in college basketball to the wire. I couldn't be any happier for my alma mater in seeing such a terrific basketball mind taking over the helm at UMass."
— Rick Pitino, Head Coach, University of Louisville

"I enjoyed coaching Travis during his three years at Kentucky. We developed a very close relationship and Travis is somebody that has grown and evolved into an outstanding coach. He will do a great job at UMass recruiting, coaching and developing quality student-athletes in his program."
— Billy Donovan, Head Coach, University of Florida

"Travis is an outstanding young coach who knows what it takes to win basketball games. His teams mirror him in that they are hard-nosed and competitive. As a player, he always looked for ways to improve his game. As a coach, he's been tireless in his approach to making his teams better. I have a lot of respect for Travis."
— Tubby Smith, Head Coach, University of Kentucky

"Travis is full of energy, enthusiasm and has learned from one of the best in playing for Rick Pitino at Kentucky. He will bring a Pitino style with lots of excitement to the UMass campus."
— Dick Vitale, ESPN

“Travis has a lot energy. I like the way he does a lot of different things. He is a solid performer, what he has done as a player, he is now doing as a coach. I think he’s going to do a great job at UMass with his great energy. He will be challenged in the A-10, but he will get the job done.”
— Digger Phelps, ESPN

“Coach Pitino thinks Travis Ford can be another Billy Donovan, and he has proven to be prophetic. He took Eastern Kentucky to the NCAA Tournament and has shown that he is cut from the same cloth as Billy. If Travis can show the same passion and intensity as he did at Eastern Kentucky, there’s a great chance he will be successful at UMass.”
— Andy Katz, ESPN

The last two times I have seen Travis Ford outside of the NCAA Tournament has been at other coaches' practices. Ford studies the game and is a great student. He took an exceedingly difficult job at Eastern Kentucky and turned the program into a winner. Now at UMass, expect the Minutemen to play faster and use a lot of ball screens -- and win. Ford is the right guy at the right time in Amherst.”
— Jay Bilas, ESPN

“Travis Ford is a winner. He always has been, he always will be. He has great passion and integrity and is someone that everyone at UMass can be proud of.”
— John Pelphrey, Head Coach University of South Alabama and Ford’s former teammate at Kentucky