Football
Ward, Brian
Brian Ward
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
- Phone:
- 6731
An experienced coach who has worked at every level of college football, Brian Ward was named the Orange’s defensive coordinator in January 2016 and assumed the role of linebackers coach in 2017.
The rise of Syracuse’s defense under Ward has been steady and the play of the unit contributed significantly to the Orange’s breakthrough 10-3 campaign in 2018.
For the second year in a row, Syracuse ranked among the nation’s best on third down. The Orange held their opponents to a 28.6 percent conversion rate, which ranked seventh in the FBS. Additionally, the Orange finished in the top 10 nationally in turnovers gained (3rd - 31), interceptions (5th - 18), fumbles recovered (5th - 13) and sacks (6th - 3.31 per game). The 31 takeaways helped Syracuse outscore its opponents 111-46 off turnovers, and the Orange’s school-record 43 sacks ranked second in the country.
Syracuse’s 2018 production marked the continuation of a climb that began in 2017 when Syracuse was one of the country’s most improved defensive teams for the majority of the season. From 2016 to 2017, the Orange moved up 69 spots in the final NCAA statistical rankings in third-down defense, finishing 13th nationally at 31.1 percent. Syracuse also surrendered 6.4 fewer points, 28.3 fewer rushing yards and 57.1 fewer total yards per game than it did in 2016, earning Ward a Broyles Award nomination as college football’s top assistant coach.
Individually, Ward’s teaching helped Syracuse linebackers Parris Bennett, Zaire Franklin and Ryan Guthrie develop into all-conference players. Bennett recorded consecutive 100+ tackle seasons playing in Ward’s scheme and signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers before retiring from football. Franklin finished his Syracuse career with more than 300 tackles and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft. Guthrie led the ACC in tackles (107) in 2018.
Before joining the Orange, Ward served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Bowling Green in 2015. He oversaw a defense that improved in several statistical categories from the previous year and featured two All-MAC selections at linebacker, including first-team honoree Austin Valdez. Ward also served as Bowling Green’s head coach for the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl versus Georgia Southern.
Ward’s defensive improvements were a major factor in Bowling Green winning the 2015 Mid-American Conference (MAC) title. The Falcons surrendered 4.6 fewer points and nearly 76 yards less of total offense per game than they did in 2014. In addition, Bowling Green moved up the NCAA statistical rankings in passing defense (up 44 spots), rushing defense (up 20 spots), scoring defense (from 106 to 84) and total defense (from 115 to 86). Bowling Green finished 13th nationally in turnovers gained (27) and eighth in interceptions (20). Valdez was the leader of the unit, racking up 144 tackles and ranking 10th in the FBS in tackles per game (10.3).
From 2012-14, Ward was the defensive coordinator at Western Illinois where he molded the Leathernecks into one of the top defenses in FCS football. Ward’s 2013 unit ranked seventh in the nation in total defense (305.3 ypg) and third nationally in passing defense (149.0 ypg). The next year, the Leathernecks put on one of the most impressive defensive displays of the season against Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon. Western Illinois held the Heisman Trophy finalist to 38 yards on 17 carries (2.2 avg.).
Before joining Western Illinois, Ward was the defensive coordinator at Drake in 2011 where he helped the Bulldogs to a 9-2 record and the Pioneer Football League championship.
Ward’s other previous coaching stops include: McPherson College (1997, 2007-09), Glendale Community College (1999-2000), Wabash College (2001-04), Missouri Southern State (2005) and North Dakota State (2010). He spent the 2006 season as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Tulsa Union High School in Oklahoma.
A 1997 graduate of McPherson College, Ward served as the head coach of his alma mater for three seasons from 2007-09, compiling a 17-14 (.548) record. In his final season, he led the Bulldogs to a 9-2 mark, the program’s first berth in the NAIA national playoffs, and was named CollegeFanz.com Sports Network NAIA Coach of the Year. During his head-coaching tenure, the Bulldogs boasted seven All-Americans, two Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Players of the Year, seven NAIA Scholar-Athletes and 39 All-KCAC selections.
Ward’s additional coaching highlights include being named the 2002 AFCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year while serving as the assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and secondary coach at Wabash College. The Little Giants were undefeated during the 2002 regular season and reached the Division III quarterfinals, while leading the country in interceptions (25) and takeaways (43).
In 2003, Wabash ascended to No. 2 in the national polls. The Little Giants ranked among the top 10 nationally in total defense, rushing defense, and interceptions. In 2004, Ward’s secondary set a Wabash season record by allowing just five touchdown passes.
As the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Glendale Community College in 1999 and 2000, Ward was the architect of a Vaqueros defense that helped the program win the 2000 NJCAA national title.
Ward holds a bachelor’s degree in history from McPherson and a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix. He is married to the former Amy Brandseth. The couple have three children – Travis, Ellie and Erin.
THE WARD FILE
Experience: 23rd season/4th at Syracuse
Hometown: Glendale, Ariz.
Alma Mater: McPherson College '97
Family: wife, Amy; daughters, Ellie and Erin; son, Travis
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
College: McPherson College (1994-96)
POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE
1999 Valley of the Sun Bowl
2000 Valley of the Sun Bowl (NJCAA National Champions)
2002 NCAA Division III Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
2009 NAIA Playoffs (First Round)
2010 FCS Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
2015 GoDaddy Bowl
2018 Camping World Bowl
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
Missouri Southern State
Allen Barbre (Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos)
North Dakota State
Marcus Williams (Houston Texans, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears)
Western Illinois
Brett Taylor (Minnesota Vikings)
David Griffith (San Diego Chargers)
Khalen Saunders (Kansas City Chiefs)
Bowling Green
Austin Valdez (2015 All-MAC First Team)
Trent Greene (2015 All-MAC Second Team)
Syracuse
Parris Bennett (Green Bay Packers)
Zaire Franklin (Indianapolis Colts)
Ryan Guthrie (All-ACC Second Team)
The rise of Syracuse’s defense under Ward has been steady and the play of the unit contributed significantly to the Orange’s breakthrough 10-3 campaign in 2018.
For the second year in a row, Syracuse ranked among the nation’s best on third down. The Orange held their opponents to a 28.6 percent conversion rate, which ranked seventh in the FBS. Additionally, the Orange finished in the top 10 nationally in turnovers gained (3rd - 31), interceptions (5th - 18), fumbles recovered (5th - 13) and sacks (6th - 3.31 per game). The 31 takeaways helped Syracuse outscore its opponents 111-46 off turnovers, and the Orange’s school-record 43 sacks ranked second in the country.
Syracuse’s 2018 production marked the continuation of a climb that began in 2017 when Syracuse was one of the country’s most improved defensive teams for the majority of the season. From 2016 to 2017, the Orange moved up 69 spots in the final NCAA statistical rankings in third-down defense, finishing 13th nationally at 31.1 percent. Syracuse also surrendered 6.4 fewer points, 28.3 fewer rushing yards and 57.1 fewer total yards per game than it did in 2016, earning Ward a Broyles Award nomination as college football’s top assistant coach.
Individually, Ward’s teaching helped Syracuse linebackers Parris Bennett, Zaire Franklin and Ryan Guthrie develop into all-conference players. Bennett recorded consecutive 100+ tackle seasons playing in Ward’s scheme and signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers before retiring from football. Franklin finished his Syracuse career with more than 300 tackles and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft. Guthrie led the ACC in tackles (107) in 2018.
Before joining the Orange, Ward served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Bowling Green in 2015. He oversaw a defense that improved in several statistical categories from the previous year and featured two All-MAC selections at linebacker, including first-team honoree Austin Valdez. Ward also served as Bowling Green’s head coach for the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl versus Georgia Southern.
Ward’s defensive improvements were a major factor in Bowling Green winning the 2015 Mid-American Conference (MAC) title. The Falcons surrendered 4.6 fewer points and nearly 76 yards less of total offense per game than they did in 2014. In addition, Bowling Green moved up the NCAA statistical rankings in passing defense (up 44 spots), rushing defense (up 20 spots), scoring defense (from 106 to 84) and total defense (from 115 to 86). Bowling Green finished 13th nationally in turnovers gained (27) and eighth in interceptions (20). Valdez was the leader of the unit, racking up 144 tackles and ranking 10th in the FBS in tackles per game (10.3).
From 2012-14, Ward was the defensive coordinator at Western Illinois where he molded the Leathernecks into one of the top defenses in FCS football. Ward’s 2013 unit ranked seventh in the nation in total defense (305.3 ypg) and third nationally in passing defense (149.0 ypg). The next year, the Leathernecks put on one of the most impressive defensive displays of the season against Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon. Western Illinois held the Heisman Trophy finalist to 38 yards on 17 carries (2.2 avg.).
Before joining Western Illinois, Ward was the defensive coordinator at Drake in 2011 where he helped the Bulldogs to a 9-2 record and the Pioneer Football League championship.
Ward’s other previous coaching stops include: McPherson College (1997, 2007-09), Glendale Community College (1999-2000), Wabash College (2001-04), Missouri Southern State (2005) and North Dakota State (2010). He spent the 2006 season as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Tulsa Union High School in Oklahoma.
A 1997 graduate of McPherson College, Ward served as the head coach of his alma mater for three seasons from 2007-09, compiling a 17-14 (.548) record. In his final season, he led the Bulldogs to a 9-2 mark, the program’s first berth in the NAIA national playoffs, and was named CollegeFanz.com Sports Network NAIA Coach of the Year. During his head-coaching tenure, the Bulldogs boasted seven All-Americans, two Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Players of the Year, seven NAIA Scholar-Athletes and 39 All-KCAC selections.
Ward’s additional coaching highlights include being named the 2002 AFCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year while serving as the assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and secondary coach at Wabash College. The Little Giants were undefeated during the 2002 regular season and reached the Division III quarterfinals, while leading the country in interceptions (25) and takeaways (43).
In 2003, Wabash ascended to No. 2 in the national polls. The Little Giants ranked among the top 10 nationally in total defense, rushing defense, and interceptions. In 2004, Ward’s secondary set a Wabash season record by allowing just five touchdown passes.
As the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Glendale Community College in 1999 and 2000, Ward was the architect of a Vaqueros defense that helped the program win the 2000 NJCAA national title.
Ward holds a bachelor’s degree in history from McPherson and a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix. He is married to the former Amy Brandseth. The couple have three children – Travis, Ellie and Erin.
THE WARD FILE
Experience: 23rd season/4th at Syracuse
Hometown: Glendale, Ariz.
Alma Mater: McPherson College '97
Family: wife, Amy; daughters, Ellie and Erin; son, Travis
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
College: McPherson College (1994-96)
| COACHING LEDGER | ||
| Years | School | Position |
| 1997 | McPherson College | Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator |
| 1999-2000 | Glendale Community College | Defensive Coordinator/Secondary |
| 2001-04 | Wabash College | Asst. Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Secondary |
| 2005 | Missouri Southern State | Asst. Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2006 | Tulsa Union HS (Okla.) | Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator |
| 2007-09 | McPherson College | Head Coach |
| 2010 | North Dakota State | Defensive Backs |
| 2011 | Drake | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2012-14 | Western Illinois | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2015 | Bowling Green | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2016 | Syracuse | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2017-present | Syracuse | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE
1999 Valley of the Sun Bowl
2000 Valley of the Sun Bowl (NJCAA National Champions)
2002 NCAA Division III Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
2009 NAIA Playoffs (First Round)
2010 FCS Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
2015 GoDaddy Bowl
2018 Camping World Bowl
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
Missouri Southern State
Allen Barbre (Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos)
North Dakota State
Marcus Williams (Houston Texans, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears)
Western Illinois
Brett Taylor (Minnesota Vikings)
David Griffith (San Diego Chargers)
Khalen Saunders (Kansas City Chiefs)
Bowling Green
Austin Valdez (2015 All-MAC First Team)
Trent Greene (2015 All-MAC Second Team)
Syracuse
Parris Bennett (Green Bay Packers)
Zaire Franklin (Indianapolis Colts)
Ryan Guthrie (All-ACC Second Team)
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