Texas Southern University Baseball is proud to announce key updates to its coaching staff as the program looks to build momentum entering the 2026 season. Ely Gallego has been elevated to Interim Head Coach, while former professional pitcher Aaron Ford joins the Tigers as Head Assistant Coach and Pitching Coach. Together, the two bring a dynamic blend of experience, development expertise, and competitive drive to the program.
Gallego Elevated to Interim Head Coach After Serving as TSU Assistant in 2025
After joining the Texas Southern coaching staff last season, Ely Gallego begins his first year as Interim Head Coach, bringing nine seasons of collegiate coaching experience and a strong track record of player development. Before arriving at TSU, Gallego spent eight seasons at Sul Ross State University, rising through roles that included graduate assistant, assistant coach, and head coach.Â
A graduate of Alpine High School and alum of Sul Ross State, Gallego was a standout two‑way player. In 2016, he hit .352 with 56 hits, 16 doubles, seven home runs, and 49 RBI, while recording a 6–5 pitching record with five complete games and 60 strikeouts. His performance earned Third‑Team All‑ASC honors and ASC Pitcher of the Week recognition after an 11‑strikeout, three‑hit shutout.Â
Gallego later spent four seasons in the professional independent leagues with the Alpine Cowboys and Sonoma Stompers, hitting .344 with 13 home runs and 97 RBI, and compiling a 20–6 career pitching record, highlighted by a 2019 Pecos League Championship.
In addition to his on‑field credentials, Gallego's instructional experience spans hitting, fielding, and pitching, reflecting a development‑first philosophy rooted in building confident, well‑rounded athletes both on and off the field.
After joining the Texas Southern coaching staff last season, Ely Gallego begins his first year as Interim Head Coach, bringing nine seasons of collegiate coaching experience and a strong track record of player development. Before arriving at TSU, Gallego spent eight seasons at Sul Ross State University, rising through roles that included graduate assistant, assistant coach, and head coach.Â
Former Mets Pitcher Aaron Ford Joins TSU as Head Assistant Coach & Pitching Coach
Texas Southern also welcomes Aaron Ford to the staff as the team's new Head Assistant Coach and Pitching Coach. Ford, a Houston native, brings professional playing experience and a reputation for elevating pitching staffs through fundamentals, precision, and athlete‑specific development.
Ford was selected by the New York Mets in the 2017 MLB Draft and went on to pitch across the rookie and Class A levels, posting a 3.02 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts in 47.2 innings over 33 minor‑league appearances. In 2018, he was named the Columbia Fireflies BC Powder Relief Pitcher of the Month after a dominant stretch featuring zero walks, zero home runs, and nine strikeouts across seven outings.Â
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Before turning professional, Ford established himself as one of the NAIA's premier pitchers during his final season at Tennessee Wesleyan, recording a 1.94 ERA with 101 strikeouts and only 12 walks across 74.1 innings. His collegiate journey also featured standout years at San Jacinto College, where he threw two no‑hitters and a perfect game, and included dominant performances such as a complete‑game, three‑hit shutout with 18 strikeouts and no walks against nationally ranked Milligan. He later continued his path at Auburn before completing both his degree and collegiate career at Tennessee Wesleyan.
Ford's coaching philosophy focuses on direction, timing, repeatability, and execution—core principles he plans to instill throughout TSU's pitching staff as he helps shape a new identity on the mound.
A Strengthened Foundation for the Future
With Gallego's leadership and Ford's pitching expertise, Texas Southern Baseball enters the new season with renewed energy and a coaching team built on experience, teaching ability, and a commitment to elevating the program's competitive standard. The Tigers look ahead with confidence as a new era of development, discipline, and opportunity begins at TSU.
