James Ford (born 29 September 1982) is an English professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Batley Bulldogs in the Betfred Championship.
As a player Ford played in the Super League for Castleford Tigers and the Widnes Vikings, as a but also played at , and on the . Ford signed initially for the Featherstone Rovers as a youth in 1998, before moving on to the Sheffield Eagles, and then Castleford in 2008. Ford made his first-grade début whilst playing for the Castleford Tigers in Super League in a 28âÂÂ6 win away to the Warrington Wolves in 2009's Super League XIV, and he went on to make a total of eight appearances, scoring once. In late 2009, he left the club for Widnes. During his playing and early coaching career, he was a lecturer at Wakefield College.
After retiring as a player in 2014, Ford took over as head coach at York, and became the club's first ever full-time coach in 2018. In November 2021, he extended his contract with the club until the end of 2024. In October 2022 Ford resigned from York to become assistant coach at Super League club Wakefield Trinity.
On 16 May 2023 he was announced as the new Director of Rugby at Featherstone Rovers. He was later announced on 18 Aug 2023 to take over as head coach following the sacking of Sean Long.
On 26 February 2025 it was reported that he had left Featherstone Rovers after just two games of the 2025 season.
On 25 August 2025 it was reported that he would take over as head coach for 2026, once John Kear retired at the end of the 2025 season.