The Assistant Coach of the Year Award honors assistant coaches who excel in community service, committment to the studen-athlete, on-field coaching success, and AFCA professional organization involvement.
Ward, in his second season at Wabash, was selected after coordinating the Little Giants' community service program with the Montgomery County FISH Foundation this year. The program has gathered over 3,000 canf of food. The "Turnover Hunger" program has raised over $4,000 for the community food pantry. Ward has also been involved in the Wabash Youth Football Day and the local Special Olympics chapter. His 2001 defensive unit finished second in the North Coast Athletic Conference in pass efficiency defense and first in interceptions with 15.