The Kent State athletic department named associate head coach Rob Senderoff as the interim head coach of the men’s basketball team until a replacement for former head coach Geno Ford is found.

Joel Nielsen, the director of athletics at Kent State, said Ford made an indication Sunday at 5:30 p.m. that he would be leaving the Flashes after serving as head coach for three years.

Nielsen was “alerted to the Bradley University website” at 9:30 p.m. to see Ford accepted a similar contract for the head coach position there.

“I would have hoped for better communication because there was excellent communication (earlier),” Nielsen said. “I would’ve liked to sit down and hear his thoughts and ideas.”

While it was critical to name Senderoff as soon as possible, Nielsen said the nation-wide search to permanently replace Ford will not be concluded as quickly.

The athletic department is taking a few days to absorb the sudden change before narrowing down the dozens of candidates it is already considering.

-Rachel Jones