Gary Ward (college coach)

Gary Ward

• School Phillips University, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, New Mexico State University

• Born September 9, 1940 in Ramona, OK USA

Biographical Information

Pitcher Gary Ward played both baseball and basketball in college, first at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, and later at New Mexico State University. After graduation in 1963, he was a high school coach for several years before becoming coach of Yavapai Community College from 1971 to 1977.

Ward was then the head coach at Oklahoma State University from 1978 to 1996. In 19 seasons, his Cowboys were 953-313, and he led the school to 10 College World Series, including a record seven in a row from 1981 to 1987. OSU won the Big Eight Conference title his last 16 years. During his tenure, the school produced big league stars Robin Ventura and Pete Incaviglia. He was inducted in the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Ward went to his alma mater, New Mexico State, as an assistant under his son Rocky Ward in 2000. He was the head coach at NMSU in 2001 and 2002, long enough to pick up his 1,000th win, while his son assisted for him. Rocky took over the program again in 2003. Ward again became an assistant in 2007 for Rocky.

Source: 1997 & 2003 Almanacs, NMSU website