Temple University Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Wide Receivers / Pass Game Coordinator
- Email:
- wardth03@temple.edu
- Phone:
- 215-204-4694
| THAD WARD | |
| Hometown | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| College | UCF, 2001 |
| Family | Wife: Jocelyn |
| Children: daughters Jayda and Journie,; son Thaddaeus Jr. | |
| Coaching Experience | |
| Year | School, Position |
| 2019- | Temple, PGC / WRs |
| 2016-18 | Illinois, RBs |
| 2013-15 | Northern Illinois, WRs |
| 2012 | Western Michigan, WRs |
| 2011 | Gardner-Webb, WRs / PGC |
| 2005-10 | Western Illinois, RBs |
| 2003-04 | Tallahassee Rickards HS, WRs / DBs / Interim HC (2004) |
| 2002 | Florida A&M, GA |
| Postseason Experience | |
| Year | Bowl, School |
| 2019 | Military Bowl, Temple |
| 2015 | Poinsettia Bowl, NIU |
| 2014 | Boca Raton Bowl, NIU |
| 2014 | MAC Championship, NIU |
| 2013 | Poinsettia Bowl, NIU |
Thad Ward joined the Temple Football staff in 2019 following three seasons as the running backs coach at the University of Illinois under head coach Lovie Smith. He was named the pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach.
In his first season with Temple, Ward developed young talent. That was evident with Jadan Blue who set the school's all-time mark for receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,067), becoming the first player in school history to top the 1,000 receiving yard mark. Because of Blue, Brandon Mack was often overlooked, but his season too - 59 catches for 904 yards and seven touchdowns - ranked among the best in school history.
Ward coached the Fighting Illini running backs from 2016-2018. In 2018, Ward coached stand out running backs Reggie Corbin and A.J. Bush. Corbin finished 2018 with 128 carries for 1,085 yards and nine touchdowns. His 8.5 yards per carry was the best in the FBS. Bush finished with 138 carries for 869 yards and eight touchdowns.
In 2017, Ward had freshman Mike Epstein start three of the first five games at running back before a promising start was cut short by an injury. Epstein carried the ball 57 times for 346 yards and three touchdowns, managing to still lead the team in rushing yards despite playing in only five games. He was the fifth true freshman in program history to lead the team in rushing yards and also tied for the team lead with four total touchdowns. Epstein had a team-high 111 rushing yards against Western Kentucky.
In his first season with the Fighting Illini in 2016, Ward helped junior running back Kendrick Foster have a breakout year. Foster finished the regular season ranked third in the Big Ten in yards per carry (5.7) and seventh in all-purpose yards per game (110.7). Redshirt freshman Reggie Corbin also had a big season, finishing 14th in the nation in yards per carry among freshmen (6.1), the best mark by an Illini freshman since at least 2000.
He was brought to Illinois following three seasons coaching the wide receivers at Northern Illinois University under Rod Carey. Ward helped Northern Illinois to a 31-11 record from 2013-15 prior to his arrival at Illinois, including two trips to the Poinsettia Bowl (2013, ‘15) and one appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl (2014). His success was highlighted by two-time All-MAC honoree Da’Ron Brown’s selection by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Brown caught 68 passes for 1,065 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Huskies to the 2014 MAC championship. He also helped develop Kenny Golladay, drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round in 2017, and Tommylee Lewis, an undrafted free agent signed by the New Orleans Saints in 2016.
Ward arrived at NIU from Western Michigan in 2012. In one season with the Broncos, Ward developed wide receiver Jaime Wilson into WMU’s No. 1 receiver on his way to the MAC Freshman of the Year award. Wilson had 67 receptions for 792 yards and six touchdowns in his first year at Western Michigan.
Prior to WMU, Ward spent one season at Gardner-Webb as the wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator in 2011, following six seasons as the running backs coach at Western Illinois from 2005-10. He helped Western Illinois reach the FCS Playoffs and beat Coastal Carolina, 17-10, in the first round. The Leathernecks fell to No. 1-seed Appalachian State, 42-14, in the quarterfinals.
Ward started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Florida A&M before spending two years coaching high school football at Tallahassee Rickards High School from 2003-04.
Ward played at UCF (1999-2001) and Coffeyville Community College (1997-98) following an all-state high school career in Florida. Ward was an all-conference selection at Coffeyville. He caught 43 passes for 446 yards with a touchdown as a senior at UCF. Ward finished his bachelor’s degree at UCF in 2001.
He and his wife, Jocelyn, have two daughters, Jayda and Journie, and one son, Thaddaeus, Jr.
