Randy Ward begins his second year as co-head coach for Academy of Art University Softball.
Coaching alongside Sami Strinz, Ward and the Urban Knights went 17-32 overall (13-19 in Pacific West Conference) in 2013. The year was highlighted by a stretch in mid-February and early March in which ART U won seven of 10 games that included a pair of games won on steals of home and a
10-7 comeback victory over 2012 PacWest champion California Baptist. Later in the season, the Knights would top conference rival Notre Dame de Namur in
walk-off fashion to conclude the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, CA.
With several years of Division I coaching experience, Ward joined Academy of Art after serving as an assistant coach for a Saint Mary's team that captured the 2012 Pacific Coast Softball Conference Coastal Division Championship.
After joining the SMC coaching staff in 2011, Ward helped the Gaels finish the 2012 season with a 26-23 record and stood atop the Coastal Division of the PCSC, posting a program-best 15-4 record in conference. As the hitting coach, Ward helped the Gaels finish in the top five in the conference in almost every statistical offensive category. The Gaels also hit a school-record 38 home runs and had a program-best .289 team batting average in 2012.
Ward brought a multitude of experience to the SMC program after having spent four seasons (2008-11) as the associate head coach at the University of North Dakota, specializing with hitters. In his time with UND, Ward led the Fighting Sioux to their first conference championship in program history in 2010 and helped the program put up all-time offensive numbers in runs scored, hits, home runs, stolen bases and walks.
Prior to arriving at North Dakota, Ward spent the 2007 season as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Iowa, where he worked specifically with the team's hitters and outfielders.
Ward was also the head softball coach at Nora Springs Rock Falls High School in Nora Springs, IA where he helped the team to offensive records in home runs, batting average, runs scored, and runs batted in. Before that, he spent three seasons as an assistant softball coach at North Iowa Arena Community College.
Ward, a native of Mason City, IA, graduated from Northern Iowa in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in family services.
Head Coach, ART U
2012 - present
|
Year |
Overall |
PacWest (Place) |
|
2013 |
17-32 |
13-19 (8th) |
|
Totals |
17-32 |
13-19 |
