Southern Tier Catholic School Archbishop
Walsh Academy
208 North 24th Street Olean, New York 14760 Phone (716) 372-8122 Fax (716) 372-6707
Sean Ford ’86, USA Basketball Men’s National Team Director, To Speak at
Archbishop Walsh Academy Graduation Ceremonies
Olean, NY—May 14, 2012. When the Archbishop Walsh Academy class of 2012
takes their seats at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on the campus of St.
Bonaventure University for commencement exercises, the class will be greeted by
fellow Walsh graduate, Sean Ford ’86, the Men’s National Team Director for USA
Basketball and Walsh Commencement Speaker. The Fifty Second Commencement
Ceremony for Archbishop Walsh Academy will take place on Friday, May 25,
2012 at 6 p.m.
Sean Ford ’86 is “the main man” according to Mike Krzyzewski in his book The
Gold Standard, the “only one person who made it through the entire Olympic
experience without a single turnover.” Sean’s work with USA Basketball is well noted throughout the book
written by the legendary basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, but it is Sean’s pure joy for basketball and the
humbleness he has for his daily work that makes a truly lasting impact on those who meet him. On how he
arrived at this prestigious position within the basketball community, Sean comments “I started by loving the
sport, being a manager of a college team, receiving a master’s degree in sports management and being lucky.”
In his current role at USA Basketball, Sean oversees all aspects of the Junior and Senior National Teams,
including involvement in the selection of the coaching staff and players, managing men’s team trials, team
training camps, exhibition games, international competitions and management of all team budgets. He works
closely with the Senior National Team Managing Director and National Team Head Coach to create, implement
and manage the Senior National Team Program. Hired in February 1995, Sean has served USA Basketball as
the manager of basketball operations, director of basketball operations, assistant executive director – operations,
and since November 2000, as the Men’s National Team Director.
Prior to his positions within USA Basketball, Sean served as the director of marketing for the University of
Cincinnati (Ohio) Athletic Department, where he also worked as a marketing and compliance intern. Sean
earned his bachelor’s degree in communication, with a business minor, in 1990 from Villanova University (Pa.),
where he also served as a four-year team manager for the men’s basketball team. Sean interned in the Georgia
Tech Athletic Department and then worked at the University of Massachusetts as a graduate assistant for the
men’s basketball team, while earning his master’s degree in sports management.
Returning to Walsh as the commencement speaker brings back fond memories for Sean and his time at the
private Catholic school. “The people and the sense of community are what make Walsh so special,” he
comments. “You don’t understand how special it is until you realize that what takes place at Walsh does not
happen everywhere else.”
Archbishop Walsh Academy is an International Baccalaureate World School
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Sean is looking forward to having the opportunity to meet with the students before graduation and touring the
school to see the new classrooms of the future and other changes that have taken place. He recalls his
commencement speaker, Ron Decarli (current St. Bonaventure University coach at the time) and his words to
the Walsh class of 1986. “It is a very humbling experience to be asked to speak at the graduation of your former
high school,” he remarks. “I hope any words I can put together are helpful to the graduating students.”
One thought he would like to impart upon the graduating class is that “persistence and hard work can take you
very far in life, and that bigger is not always better.” Sean remembers those that left a lasting impression on him
from his high school days, specifically Dr. John Watson, who Sean recognizes as having “the greatest influence
on me both personally and professionally.”
This is a busy time for Sean as the National Team prepares for the Olympics in London England, scheduled to
take place from July 27 to August 12. The men’s basketball competition kicks off on Sunday, July 29 with the
gold medal game and ceremony scheduled for Sunday, August 12. In his position as National Team Director, a
great deal of work takes place behind the scenes prior to the team stepping out onto the court. But based on past
experiences, the work is well worth the experience. Sean views winning World and Olympic Basketball
Championships at all levels as his proudest professional moments. Perhaps most important in his mind is
“maintaining strong relationships with the people on each team,” he states.
The class of 2012 will indeed to be honored to have Sean as their commencement speaker, recognizing that this
class has particularly strong ties to the proud traditions of Walsh basketball – including leading all-time scorer
and proud member of the class of 2012, Ryan Whelpley. However, the words that Sean hopes to impart on the
class go beyond basketball and achievements on the court. His is more a message about remembering your
Walsh connection, working hard in all that you do and preserving the relationships you make with people in
high school, college and beyond. It is with much gratitude and excitement that Walsh will welcome back Sean
Ford ’86 as the fifty-second commencement speaker.
Sean and his wife, Nora, currently reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado with their daughter Siobhan and twins
Kate and Luke.
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