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Message: [QUOTE="orangenirvana, post: 1591397, member: 156"] Ward certainly has an interesting coaching history. [B]1998-2000 Glendale Community College (DC) 2001 Wabash (STC/DB/SCC) 2002-2004 Wabash (AHC/DC) 2005 Missouri Southern (Co-DC/STC) 2006 Tulsa Union High School (DC) 2007-2009 McPherson College 2010 North Dakota State (DB) 2011 Drake (DC) 2012-2014 Western Illinois (DC) 2015 Bowling Green (DC) 2016-present Syracuse (DC)[/B] Babers must have been impressed with Ward's defense while they played against each other in the Missouri Valley conference in 2012 and 2013. Ward improved Bowling Green's defense ranking from #122 to #78. Not too shabby. Here's the Bowling Green press release when Babers hired Ward last year... [URL]http://bgsufalcons.com/news/2015/2/13/BB_0213154303.aspx[/URL] [FONT=Georgia]BOWLING GREEN, Ohio—Bowling Green State University head football coach [URL='http://bgsufalcons.com/coaches.aspx?rc=526']Dino Babers[/URL] announced the hiring of new defensive coordinator Brian Ward on Friday (Feb. 13) morning. Ward comes to Bowling Green after serving as the defensive coordinator at Western Illinois University the previous three years. "We are really excited to welcome Brian Ward and his family to Bowling Green as our new defensive coordinator," Babers began. "Brian's defenses play with a lot of confidence and it's clear how disciplined and well-coached they are. His Western Illinois defense regularly finished as one of the best in the nation and we are excited to see what he does with our Falcon defense." [B]When Ward arrived at Western Illinois for the 2012 season, the Leathernecks' defense ranked among the bottom of the Football Championship Subdivision in most statistical categories. But, Ward quickly turned the defense around, molding the Leathernecks into one of the top defensive units in FCS football and the Missouri Valley Football Conference.[/B] Ward's 2013 defense ranked seventh in the nation in total defense, while ranking third nationally in passing defense. The WIU defense also showed an incredible improvement in passing efficiency defense, tackles for loss, and sacks as Ward continued to implement his scheme during his second year. "I'm very appreciative to Coach Babers for giving me this opportunity to work with the Falcon defense," Ward said. "I can't wait to meet the players and I'm ready to get to work!" [B]Under Ward, Western Illinois' defense turned in several unprecedented performances during the 2014 season. In a loss at Wisconsin, Ward's Leatherneck defense stifled Heisman Trophy-finalist Melvin Gordon, allowing him to rush for just 2.2 yards per carry (38 yards on 17 rushes). WIU allowed just nine points in the first half to the Badgers. WIU's strong 2014 season continued under Ward at Northwestern, as the WIU defense was once again up to the challenge on the road in a hostile Big Ten environment. Northwestern managed just 283 yards and 4.3 yards per play against Western Illinois and Ward's defense. Against four-time defending FCS National Champion North Dakota State, Ward and the Leathernecks bottled up the Bison for three quarters, allowing just 17 total points to one of the nation's top offenses.[/B] Ward joined the Leathernecks following a successful season at Drake University. Ward was instrumental in helping the Bulldogs to a 9-2 record and 2011 Pioneer Football League championship. [/FONT][B][FONT=Georgia]He took over an already impressive defense and made it better as the Bulldogs jumped up the national rankings in every defensive category. As the 2011 season progressed, the Bulldogs' defense got stingier holding five of the final eight opponents to 14 points or less. Drake finished the year second nationally in rushing defense (77.2 ypg), third in red zone defense, fifth in sacks (39), seventh in scoring defense (17.8 ppg), 10th in total defense (295.4 ypg allowed), 13th in tackles for loss (7.7) and 23rd in pass efficiency defense.[/FONT][/B] [FONT=Georgia] Ward coached the 2010 season at North Dakota State. [B]The Bison led the MVFC in scoring defense that season, after finishing dead last in 2009. [/B]NDSU also recorded 18 interceptions in 2010. Ward holds a bachelor's degree in history from McPherson and also has a master's degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix. He is married to the former Amy Brandseth, and the couple has three children—Travis, Ellie and Erin.[/FONT] [/QUOTE]

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