Brian Ward enters his third year as the defensive coordinator for the Leathernecks. During his two years in charge of the defense, Western continues to solidify itself as one of the top units in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and among all Division I programs.
In two short years, the defensive unit went from ranking 100th in total defense to seventh last year, and from 49th in pass defense in 2011 to third-best in the country. The Leathernecks also moved from 110th in passing efficiency defense two years ago to 14th last season. WIU also made a significant improvement in sacks (116th to 55th) and tackles for a loss (105th to 73rd).
Ward coached three All-MVFC players on defense, led by Second Team defensive back Martinez Davis (second straight year at Second Team). Junior linebacker Kevin Kintzel (Honorable Mention) set a program record scoring three defensive touchdowns last year. Senior defensive lineman Ryan Demming earned Honorable Mention honors for the second straight year.
Despite a year in which Ward lost three fifth-year senior starters to an injury in the season-opener, he coached the Leathernecks to one of their better years in several categories. In all, Western lost four starters to injuries (including three of the four defensive backs and two team captains), and had eight players on the two-deep miss a total of 46 games during the season. Western still spent most of the 2012 season as one of the top teams in the country in total defense and scoring defense. The defensive unit recorded 16 interceptions, the 10th-highest total in program history. Four players, including three underclassmen, earned All-Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Leading the linebacker corps, the position group Ward coached, was redshirt-freshman J.J. Raffelson who finished as a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award (top freshman in the country) and was Honorable Mention All-MVFC. He became the only freshman in Leatherneck history to lead the defensive unit in total tackles. Davis, Jonathon Rollins (Honorable Mention) and Demming also earned all-conference accolades.
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. 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 redzone 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.
Ward coached linebacker Tyler Moorehead to a unanimous First Team All-Pioneer League selection and four more defensive players to Second Team honors. Two additional players on defense were selected Honorable Mention. In the classroom, five of his defensive players were voted Academic All-PFL.
No stranger to the MVFC, Ward spent the 2010 season as the defensive backs coach at North Dakota State. He was part of a Bison program that, along with the Leathernecks, represented two of the three MVFC teams that advanced to the Division I playoffs. NDSU advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual champion Eastern Washington.
That year NDSU led the conference in scoring defense after finishing last the previous season. His secondary also played a key role in going from last to first in pass efficiency defense and fewest touchdown passes allowed. The Bison also led the conference in interceptions with 18.
A 1997 graduate of McPherson College, Ward spent three seasons (2007-09) at his alma mater as head coach compiling a 17-14 record. He led the Bulldogs to a 9-2 record and the program's first berth in the NAIA Football Championship series in 2009.
In his final season at McPherson, Ward was voted the CollegeFanz.com Sports Network NAIA 'Coach of the Year'.
During his tenure, the Bulldogs had seven All-Americans, two Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) 'Players of the Year', seven NAIA Scholar-Athletes and 39 All-KCAC selections. The nine victories in 2009 set a program record for most victories, the first time reaching the 9-win milestone in the then 84-year history of the program and finished 12th in the final national poll.
He spent the 2006 season as the defensive coordinator at Tulsa Union High School, helping the program to a state semifinals appearance and holding opponents to just 10 touchdowns in 13 games played. In 2005 Ward was the co-defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at Missouri Southern. The squad blocked seven kicks that year (four punts/three field goals), set a record with 33 sacks during the 10-game season, and for the first time in 12 years returned a punt and kickoff back for a touchdown during the same season.
Ward served as assistant head coach, special teams coordinator, secondary coach and strength and conditioning coordinator under Eastern Michigan head coach Chris Creighton at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., for four seasons (2001-2004). He was named the 2002 American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division III National Assistant Coach of the Year while at Wabash.
In 2001, the Wabash defense ranked fifth in Division III with 36 turnovers, blocked six kicks, and led the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in interceptions. The Little Giants were undefeated during the 2002 regular season, NCAC champions and Division III quarterfinalists. The Wabash defense led D-III with 25 pass interceptions and 43 forced turnovers.
Wabash was ranked as high as No. 2 in the 2003 AFCA national poll when its defense ranked in Division III's top 10 nationally in total defense, rushing defense, interceptions and kickoff return average. In 2004 the Little Giants broke the school record by allowing only five touchdown passes during the season.
Ward worked three years (1998-2000) at Glendale Community College as the defensive coordinator in charge of the secondary. His final two years the program won the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference championship, and in 2000 went 10-1 en route to the NJCAA National Championship.
Following his playing career at McPherson, Ward was the defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at his alma mater in 1997. The Bulldogs posted their first winning record in 23 years while finishing second nationally (NAIA) in passing defense and eighth in total defense. McPherson also blocked 12 kicks that season, a program record.
Ward graduated from McPherson College in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in history. He holds a master's degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.
A graduate of Glendale (Ariz.) Apollo High School, Brian is married to the former Amy Brandseth. They are the parents of three young children, Travis, Ellie and Erin.
