Fresno State Athletics
Football
Ward, Lorenzo
Lorenzo Ward
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
- Email:
- lward@csufresno.edu
Lorenzo Ward is in his first season as defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs, being hired on Jan. 12, 2016. He is a significant addition to the coaching staff, coming to Fresno State with 22 years of coaching experience at the highest levels in college football. He most recently was at South Carolina for the past seven seasons where he served as the defensive coordinator for the Gamecocks.
Ward has coached in 15 bowl games in his career and has a proven track record, especially leading secondary units as he has coached 16 defensive backs who went on to be drafted into the NFL. Two of those were first round picks in Stephon Gilmore (2012, No. 10 overall) at South Carolina and DeAngelo Hall (2004, No. 8 overall) out of Virginia Tech.
In his time as coordinator at South Carolina, he had the Gamecock defense ranked in the top 25 nationally in both scoring and total defense in four out of his seven seasons. USC ranked 11th in the country in 2012 by giving up just 315.5 total yards per game and was 13th in scoring defense when his unit allowed just 18.2 points per game. The next season in 2013 saw the Gamecocks rank 12th nationally in scoring defense at 20.3 points per game allowed.
The Gamecocks’ best defensive year in his tenure came in 2011 when USC ranked No. 3 in the country in total defense, allowing just 267.7 yards per game, and No. 11 in scoring defense at 18.4 points per game.
Ward in his time as defensive coordinator at South Carolina coached eight first-team All-SEC selections and six All-Americans. Jadeveon Clowney thrived in Ward’s defense, collecting numerous accolades before going on to be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Clowney became just the third Gamecock ever to earn first-team All-America honors in two seasons, was the 2011 SEC Freshman of the Year and won the 2012 Ted Hendricks Award given to college football’s top defensive end. Clowney was one of 12 defensive players coached by Ward at South Carolina drafted into the NFL, with Gilmore and linebacker Melvin Ingram also being first-round picks.
Ward built up a reputation as one of the top secondary coaches in the nation during his seven seasons (1999-2005) coaching the position on Frank Beamer’s staff at Virginia Tech. There he saw five of his players earn All-Big East honors and one made the All-ACC squad when the school changed conference affiliations late in his tenure in Blacksburg.
In Ward’s last season at Virginia Tech, the Hokies led the nation in total defense by giving up just 247.6 yards per game, were second in pass efficiency defense and third in pass defense. The year prior in 2004, Virginia Tech was fourth in the country in both pass defense and interceptions.
His 2002 secondary unit, led by future NFL Draft picks Willie Pile and DeAngelo Hall, led the nation in interceptions with 24. Two years earlier in 2000, Pile’s six interceptions helped Virginia Tech rank No. 2 in the country in interceptions with 23.
Ward has also amassed coaching experience at Arkansas (2008) working under Bobby Petrino, one year in the NFL (2006) with the Oakland Raiders on Art Shell’s staff and five years as an assistant coach at Chattanooga (1994-98).
He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Alabama, in 1991. Ward played for the Crimson Tide from 1986-89, helping them go 33-15 in his career with an SEC title in 1989. The Sporting News named him the Special Teams Player of the Year following his senior season.
Ward earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Alabama in 1991. He and his wife, Tara, have one son, Lorenzo Jr.
Ward has coached in 15 bowl games in his career and has a proven track record, especially leading secondary units as he has coached 16 defensive backs who went on to be drafted into the NFL. Two of those were first round picks in Stephon Gilmore (2012, No. 10 overall) at South Carolina and DeAngelo Hall (2004, No. 8 overall) out of Virginia Tech.
In his time as coordinator at South Carolina, he had the Gamecock defense ranked in the top 25 nationally in both scoring and total defense in four out of his seven seasons. USC ranked 11th in the country in 2012 by giving up just 315.5 total yards per game and was 13th in scoring defense when his unit allowed just 18.2 points per game. The next season in 2013 saw the Gamecocks rank 12th nationally in scoring defense at 20.3 points per game allowed.
The Gamecocks’ best defensive year in his tenure came in 2011 when USC ranked No. 3 in the country in total defense, allowing just 267.7 yards per game, and No. 11 in scoring defense at 18.4 points per game.
Ward in his time as defensive coordinator at South Carolina coached eight first-team All-SEC selections and six All-Americans. Jadeveon Clowney thrived in Ward’s defense, collecting numerous accolades before going on to be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Clowney became just the third Gamecock ever to earn first-team All-America honors in two seasons, was the 2011 SEC Freshman of the Year and won the 2012 Ted Hendricks Award given to college football’s top defensive end. Clowney was one of 12 defensive players coached by Ward at South Carolina drafted into the NFL, with Gilmore and linebacker Melvin Ingram also being first-round picks.
Ward built up a reputation as one of the top secondary coaches in the nation during his seven seasons (1999-2005) coaching the position on Frank Beamer’s staff at Virginia Tech. There he saw five of his players earn All-Big East honors and one made the All-ACC squad when the school changed conference affiliations late in his tenure in Blacksburg.
In Ward’s last season at Virginia Tech, the Hokies led the nation in total defense by giving up just 247.6 yards per game, were second in pass efficiency defense and third in pass defense. The year prior in 2004, Virginia Tech was fourth in the country in both pass defense and interceptions.
His 2002 secondary unit, led by future NFL Draft picks Willie Pile and DeAngelo Hall, led the nation in interceptions with 24. Two years earlier in 2000, Pile’s six interceptions helped Virginia Tech rank No. 2 in the country in interceptions with 23.
Ward has also amassed coaching experience at Arkansas (2008) working under Bobby Petrino, one year in the NFL (2006) with the Oakland Raiders on Art Shell’s staff and five years as an assistant coach at Chattanooga (1994-98).
He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Alabama, in 1991. Ward played for the Crimson Tide from 1986-89, helping them go 33-15 in his career with an SEC title in 1989. The Sporting News named him the Special Teams Player of the Year following his senior season.
Ward earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Alabama in 1991. He and his wife, Tara, have one son, Lorenzo Jr.
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