Andy Ward is one of three finalists for the vacant head men’s basketball coach and fitness director positions at Eastern Wyoming College and his public forum was Monday, where he had a 15-minute presentation and followed it by answering questions from the public, staff and students.
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TORRINGTON – Andy Ward is one of three finalists for the vacant head men’s basketball coach and fitness director positions at Eastern Wyoming College and his public forum was Monday, where he had a 15-minute presentation and followed it by answering questions from the public, staff and students.
Ward is certainly no stranger to EWC. He was a Lancer as a student, when he played on the men’s basketball team. He came back as an assistant men’s coach for the Lancers in 1996-1998. He was also a head coach for the Lancers for five seasons and in two of those years he won regional titles.
“I want to be a head coach again,” Ward said Monday during the public forum. “Coming back here, there are so many memories. It just feels like home… I’d like to restore the Eastern Wyoming College men’s basketball program back to greatness.”
After his stint at EWC, Ward went on to coach at Salt Lake City Community College, Northwest College and Idaho State University, where he was most recently an associate head coach. During his 22 years on the bench, Ward has compiled a career record of 192-128.
When it comes to his style of play, Ward said offensively that transition and spacing, ball and player movement and second opportunities are keys to what makes his teams successful. He said he is a huge proponent of the three-point shot.
“I believe in the three-point shot wholeheartedly, without a doubt,” Ward said. “I think it’s become so important in today’s game… if we are making 3’s and they are making 2’s, then we are winning.”
On the defensive end of the floor, Ward said his points of focus are transition and communication along with floor position and stance, and finishing out the possession to keep opponents to only one shot.
When it comes to the fitness center director portion of the opening, Ward’s points of emphasis during his presentation were team training and development, customer service and engagement, maintenance and safety and evaluation and implementation.
“I see it as a dynamic facility that is ever changing with the needs of those who use it,” said Ward, whose first year at EWC was the year the fitness center opened.
Back on the court for the Lancers, Ward said winning is important, but it is not his top priority.
“The thing that I really value when taking young men and teaching them a game is the importance of lifelong learning – using the game to teach life skills,” Ward said. “It’s like a laboratory for life… I really believe in coaching people, not the sport. I love the game of basketball, but I work with people.”
The public forum on Monday was the first of three this week. Brian Erickson, head men’s basketball coach at Northwest College, has a public forum today (Wednesday) at 2 p.m. Tim Moser, assistant women’s basketball coach at Colorado State University, has a public forum Thursday at 2 p.m. Both public forums will be in room 131-132 of the Tebbet Building at EWC.
