Torrey Ward Explained

Torrey Ward
Birth Date:1978 7, mf=yes
Birth Place:Birmingham, Alabama
Death Place:Bloomington, Illinois
Player Years1:1997–2000
Player Team1:UAB Blazers
Player Years2:2001–2002
Player Team2:Shanghai Sharks
Player Years3:2002–2003
Player Team3:Shandong Lions
Player Positions:Guard
Coach Years1:2003–2004
Coach Team1:Jacksonville State (volunteer)
Coach Years2:2004–2006
Coach Team2:Jacksonville State (asst.)
Coach Years3:2006–2011
Coach Team3:Ole Miss (asst.)
Coach Years4:2012–2014
Coach Team4:Illinois State (asst.)
Coach Years5:2014–2015
Coach Team5:Illinois State (assoc. HC)

Torrey Ward (July 7, 1978 – April 7, 2015) was an American assistant coach of men's college basketball. An undrafted 6'3" (1.90 m) guard from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Ward played professionally in China for several years before starting his coaching career as a volunteer at Jacksonville State University in 2003. Ward became an assistant at JSU before being hired to Andy Kennedy's staff at Ole Miss. After five seasons with the Rebels, Ward spent two years as an assistant to Dan Muller at Illinois State University. Prior to the 2014–15 season, Muller promoted Ward to associate head coach.[1]

While returning from the 2015 NCAA championship game in Indianapolis, Ward was one of seven people killed in a plane crash just outside Illinois State's main campus.[2]

Playing career

Ward attended University of Alabama at Birmingham, his hometown school, and played for three seasons (1997–2000) under head coach Murry Bartow. He was not drafted into the NBA,[3] instead playing two seasons in the Chinese Basketball Association.[4] Ward was a teammate of future NBA star Yao Ming with the Shanghai Sharks.[5]

Coaching career

In 2003, Ward joined Mike LaPlante's staff as a volunteer coach at Jacksonville State University. He then spent the next two seasons as an assistant coach for the Gamecocks before getting hired by Andy Kennedy at the University of Mississippi. After five seasons with the Rebels, Ward moved onto Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Ward spent two seasons as an assistant before being promoted to associate head coach in May 2014.

Death

Ward was killed in a plane crash on April 7, 2015. He was a passenger in a Cessna 414 flying back to Illinois State when the aircraft crashed overnight just two miles east of Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, Illinois. Also among the seven passengers killed in the crash was ISU deputy athletic director Aaron Leetch. The plane was flying from Indianapolis, Indiana, where Ward had attended the 2015 National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Ward was survived by his two children.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ward Elevated to Men's Basketball Associate Head Coach. cstv.com. April 9, 2015. April 13, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150413162631/http://goredbirds.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/052914aaa.html. dead.
  2. Web site: Illinois State coach dies in plane crash after Final 4 - CNN.com. Botelho, Greg . Scallan, Ryan . April 7, 2015. CNN. April 9, 2015.
  3. Web site: 2001 NBA Draft. Basketball-Reference.com. April 9, 2015.
  4. Web site: Torrey Ward Bio - Illinois State University Official Athletic Site. cstv.com. April 9, 2015. April 13, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150413170716/http://goredbirds.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/torrey_ward_802341.html. dead.
  5. Web site: Karle's Korner: Torrey Ward: A reporter's favorite. Karle, Rick. April 7, 2015. myfoxal.com. April 9, 2015. April 12, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412133852/http://www.myfoxal.com/story/28742979/karles-korner-torrey-ward-a-reporters-favorite. dead.
  6. Web site: Illinois State assistant Torrey Ward dies in plane crash after title game. CBSSports.com. April 9, 2015.