CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois head coach Lovie Smith has completed his coaching staff with the hiring of Thad Ward as running backs coach. Ward joins the Fighting Illini from Northern Illinois, where he coached wide receivers for the past three seasons.
"Thad Ward will bring a new level of energy to our program," Smith said. "He has been successful at each stop of his career, and is a proven recruiter. Thad has helped develop several outstanding players along the way, and I'm confident our current players will respond to his coaching in a positive way."
Ward helped Northern Illinois to a 31-11 record from 2013-15, including two trips to the Poinsettia Bowl (2013, '15) and one appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl (2014). His success was highlighted by two-time All-MAC honoree Da'Ron Brown's selection by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Brown caught 68 passes for 1,065 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Huskies to the 2014 MAC championship.
Ward went to NIU from Western Michigan in 2012. In one season with the Broncos, Ward developed wide receiver Jaime Wilson into WMU's No. 1 receiver on his way to the MAC Freshman of the Year award. Wilson had 67 receptions for 792 yards and six touchdowns in his first year at Western Michigan.
Prior to WMU, Ward spent one season at Gardner-Webb as the wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator in 2011 after six seasons as the running backs coach at Western Illinois from 2005-10.
Ward started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Florida A&M and spent two years coaching high school football at Tallahassee Rickards High School from 2003-04.
Ward played at Central Florida (1999-2001) and Coffeyville Community College (1997-98). His wife, Jocelyn, have two daughters – Jayda and Journie – and one son, Thaddaeus, Jr.
Ward's Coaching History
Years Team Position
2002 Florida A&M Graduate Assistant
2003-04 Tallahassee Rickards H.S. WR/DB (Interim head coach in 2004)
2005-10 Western Illinois Running Backs
2011 Gardner-Webb Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator
2012 Western Michigan Wide Receivers
2013-15 Northern Illinois Wide Receivers
2016 Illinois Running Backs
2016 ILLINOIS FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Lovie Smith - Head Coach
Garrick McGee - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Hardy Nickerson - Defensive Coordinator
Bob Ligashesky - Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
Luke Butkus - Offensive Line
Andrew Hayes-Stoker - Wide Receivers
Tim McGarigle - Linebackers
Mike Phair - Defensive Line
Thad Ward - Running Backs
Paul Williams - Defensive Backs
"Thad Ward will bring a new level of energy to our program," Smith said. "He has been successful at each stop of his career, and is a proven recruiter. Thad has helped develop several outstanding players along the way, and I'm confident our current players will respond to his coaching in a positive way."
Ward helped Northern Illinois to a 31-11 record from 2013-15, including two trips to the Poinsettia Bowl (2013, '15) and one appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl (2014). His success was highlighted by two-time All-MAC honoree Da'Ron Brown's selection by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Brown caught 68 passes for 1,065 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Huskies to the 2014 MAC championship.
Ward went to NIU from Western Michigan in 2012. In one season with the Broncos, Ward developed wide receiver Jaime Wilson into WMU's No. 1 receiver on his way to the MAC Freshman of the Year award. Wilson had 67 receptions for 792 yards and six touchdowns in his first year at Western Michigan.
Prior to WMU, Ward spent one season at Gardner-Webb as the wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator in 2011 after six seasons as the running backs coach at Western Illinois from 2005-10.
Ward started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Florida A&M and spent two years coaching high school football at Tallahassee Rickards High School from 2003-04.
Ward played at Central Florida (1999-2001) and Coffeyville Community College (1997-98). His wife, Jocelyn, have two daughters – Jayda and Journie – and one son, Thaddaeus, Jr.
Ward's Coaching History
Years Team Position
2002 Florida A&M Graduate Assistant
2003-04 Tallahassee Rickards H.S. WR/DB (Interim head coach in 2004)
2005-10 Western Illinois Running Backs
2011 Gardner-Webb Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator
2012 Western Michigan Wide Receivers
2013-15 Northern Illinois Wide Receivers
2016 Illinois Running Backs
2016 ILLINOIS FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Lovie Smith - Head Coach
Garrick McGee - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Hardy Nickerson - Defensive Coordinator
Bob Ligashesky - Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
Luke Butkus - Offensive Line
Andrew Hayes-Stoker - Wide Receivers
Tim McGarigle - Linebackers
Mike Phair - Defensive Line
Thad Ward - Running Backs
Paul Williams - Defensive Backs
