Ford Signs Homegrown Contract with Rapids

January 6, 2017

Colorado Rapids Release | Denver 2016 Video Features

DENVER (DU/Colorado Rapids) – University of Denver three-year starting centerback Kortne Ford (Greeley, Colo.) has signed a homegrown contract with the Colorado Rapids, the Rapids announced on Friday. Ford’s signing marks the second-consecutive season that a Pioneer has signed a homegrown contract, following Jordan Schweitzer’s path from a year ago, who signed with the Seattle Sounders in January.

Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

Ford, 20, is a two-time All-Summit League First Team selection and was a Top Drawer Soccer Second Team All-America selection in 2016. Following a freshman year that saw him start all 20 matches for the Crimson and Gold, Ford took a leadership role on then first-year head coach Jamie Franks’ defense in 2015. Ford and the rest of the backline flipped the script from 106^th in the country in goals against average in 2014 to cracking the top five in each of the last two seasons. In his 19 starts in 2015, Ford and the Pioneers kept a 0.40 goals against average (2nd nationally), a 0.63 shutout percentage (2nd) and allowed just 2.5 shots on goal per game.

Ford came to the Rapids Academy in 2012 from Colorado Storm North Soccer Club. He would go on to play for the U-16 and U-18 teams before joining the Rapids Reserves during the 2013-14 seasons. Ford was also named to the 2012-13 U.S. Soccer Academy Starting XI for the Central Conference following a successful campaign with the U-16, in which the Rapids would advance to the USDA National Finals as one of the top eight teams in the nation.

This past season, Ford led a Denver back four that finished third in the country in goals against average (0.52), third in shutout percentage (0.58) and did not allow a shot on goal in five matches. Ford also found the scoring touch in 2016, heading in five goals, including game-winners against Saint Louis (Sept. 15) and in the NCAA Quarterfinal contest at No. 3 Clemson (Dec. 2).

Franks, whose staff was named the National Coaching Staff of the Year on December 20, has been invited by Major League Soccer to serve as one of the four head coaches at next month 2017 MLS Combine. Redshirt-senior right back and two-time All-American Reagan Dunk (Dallas, Texas) and captain Sam Hamilton (Evergreen, Colo.) will join Franks at the MLS Combine January 8-12 in Los Angeles (Read More Here). The MLS Draft will be held January 13 at 1 p.m. MT in the LA Convention Center.

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