University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Ward Hired as Assistant Coach
LOS ANGELES – Bryant Ward has been named assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the UCLA Baseball program, it was announced today by Head Coach John Savage. Ward has spent the last five seasons serving in the same position for Loyola Marymount University and will assume duties as the infield coach and assistant hitting coach for the Bruins.
Ward has helped lead the LMU Lions to a 146-124-1 overall record during his tenure, including a trip to the West Coast Conference Championship game this past season. Prior to joining LMU, Ward served four seasons as an assistant coach for the University of South Florida (2007-10), two seasons on the Cal State Fullerton staff (2005-06) and one season as an assistant coach at Pitt (N.C.) Community College (2004).
“We are very excited about Bryant joining the program,” said Savage. “He is a dedicated coach who excels at teaching infielders and is an outstanding recruiter. He will bring tremendous passion and energy to the program.”
Ward joined the LMU coaching staff in 2011 as the recruiting coordinator, infield coach and third base coach. Known for his defensive coaching prowess, Ward propelled LMU to a school-record .980 fielding percentage in 2015, ranking fourth best in the country. The 2015 mark bested his defense’s .973 fielding percentage from a year prior, which at the time was also a school-record. His work with the infield has been highlighted by 2014 WCC Defensive Player of the Year David Fletcher who was recently selected in the sixth round of the 2015 MLB Draft.
In 2014, he also added the title of hitting coach to his duties, leading the Lions to their highest team batting average in the BBCORE era. This past season, Ward led LMU to a .272 team batting average, ranking second in the conference in home runs (32) and doubles (102).
A tenacious recruiter, Ward has consistently excelled in bringing in top-level classes. In his first season with LMU, Ward brought in the nation’s No. 23 ranked class (as ranked by Baseball America) – the first top-25 class in 15 years for the Lions. The Greenville, N.C. native also brought in a top-25 class in 2013, hauling in the nation’s No. 22 ranked class to give LMU two top-25 classes in three seasons. His recruiting and coaching efforts have resulted in 13 players being selected in the MLB Draft and 29 players earning All-WCC selections during his five seasons with the Lions.
While at USF, Ward served as hitting coach, position player development coach and third base coach. In Ward's four years in Tampa, the Bulls had a 125-110 overall record and a team batting average of .295. His 2009 offense hit .315 – the highest team batting average at USF since 1997. Additionally, Ward led two hitters to consecutive individual BIG EAST batting titles in 2008 and 2009. During his four years with USF, 27 Bulls were selected in the MLB Draft.
As a player, Ward was a four-year standout at East Carolina University where he helped guide the Pirates to a 182-67 overall record with four consecutive NCAA Regional appearances and one NCAA Super Regional appearance. Ward finished his ECU career ranked fifth in games played (194), seventh in at-bats (687), and third in doubles (50), and left in 2002 as the winningest player in school history.
Ward earned a degree in communications from ECU and currently resides in Hermosa Beach with his wife, Anna, their daughter, Harper Iris Ward (3), and son, Jackson Bryant Ward (1).