Jackie Ward begins her second season as assistant women’s basketball coach at Hartwick College in 2017-18.
Ward helped the Hawks to a record of 17-9 and an impressive 13-3 mark in the Empire 8 Conference in 2016-17. The Hawks would earn a berth in the Empire 8 semifinals for the first time since 2014. Seniors Emily Stone and Jacqui Foreman each were recognized on the Empire 8 Second Team.
Ward joined the Hawks after a two-year stint at Smith College. While at Smith, Ward spearheaded the recruitment of prospective student-athletes. Also in this role, Ward was responsible for daily on-court coaching, film breakdown, development of players’ individual technical and tactical skills, and opponent scouting reports. Notably, she secured eight prospective student-athletes for the 2015-16 season in just her first year with the team.
For the Pioneers, Ward also served as the Administrative Fellow and Events Manager. In this role, Ward was responsible for consulting and co-managing the Smith College Athletics re-branding initiative which restructured reports, communications and the design of branding ideas to coaches and administration in the athletic department. She also acted as the tournament director on numerous occasions including for the Seven Sisters Tennis Tournament, Hall of Fame Volleyball Invitational, Smith Volleyball Invitational, NEWMAC Championship Cross Country Meet as well as other home events.
Ward also served as an assistant coach for women’s basketball at Nazareth College from 2011-14. In her first full season with the Golden Flyers, she boasted one Empire 8 All-Conference player and another who finished as the program’s all-time leader in three-pointers made.
In the 2012-13 season, Ward coached her freshman post player to East Region Rookie of the Year honors, second team all-conference, Empire 8 Rookie of the Week four times, and a national ranking of four in field-goal percentage.
Ward was a four-year Division student-athlete at Binghamton University. As a Bearcat, she played in every game of her career, earning a starting position her final two seasons and being selected as a captain her senior year. She ranked as the third-best shooter in the America East Conference, and was named to the America East Academic Honor Roll and Dean’s List.
She holds two master’s degrees in Education and Exercise and Sport Studies.
