The following may be a take that is not very popular, but I don't think Ford was a bad hire...
He got the team in the Dance in just his third year following the Crews dumpster fire; then the following 3 seasons, he had 3 Top 50 ish teams (I don't want to rehash bad luck v. excuses v. self-inflicted wounds) but the bottom line is not too many coaches in SLU history stacked recruiting classes and built rosters like that over a four-year period.
BUT.... BUT I also think that in the new NIL/Portal wild west era, things have clearly headed in the wrong direction. His time has probably run its course and a change is probably for the best.
In conclusion, because it's time for a change now, does not necessarily mean it was a bad hire then... both things can be true.