Torrey Ward

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]

Torrey Ward
Biographical details
Born(1978-07-07)July 7, 1978
Birmingham, Alabama
DiedApril 7, 2015(2015-04-07) (aged 36)
Bloomington, Illinois
Playing career
1997–2000UAB Blazers
2001–2002Shanghai Sharks
2002–2003Shandong Lions
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2003–2004Jacksonville State (volunteer)
2004–2006Jacksonville State (asst.)
2006–2011Ole Miss (asst.)
2012–2014Illinois State (asst.)
2014–2015Illinois State (assoc. HC)

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]

References
  1. "Ward Elevated to Men's Basketball Associate Head Coach". cstv.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  2. Botelho, Greg; Scallan, Ryan (April 7, 2015). "Illinois State coach dies in plane crash after Final 4 - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  3. "2001 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  4. "Torrey Ward Bio - Illinois State University Official Athletic Site". cstv.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  5. Karle, Rick (April 7, 2015). "Karle's Korner: Torrey Ward: A reporter's favorite". myfoxal.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  6. "Illinois State assistant Torrey Ward dies in plane crash after title game". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
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