Ward joined the Lumberjacks coaching staff as an Associate Coach prior to the 2025-26 season. A native of North St. Paul, MN, Ward embarks on his third stint on a USHL bench. In 2017-18, he was an assistant coach for the Sioux City Musketeers, and returned in the same role for the Waterloo Black Hawks in 2019-2020. A position he held for two seasons.
Between the Hawks and Jacks, Ward spent a season with the Army West Point Black Knights of the Atlantic Hockey America (NCAA DI) as an assistant coach.
Now with the Lumberjacks, Ward credits the Lumberjacks' dedication to player experience and development as his biggest draw to the organization.
In his playing career, Ward spent three seasons in the North American Hockey League, allowing him to bring knowledge of the USA Hockey Ladder of Development to Muskegon.
