Tim Ward is in his third season on on the Governors' basketball staff after joining head coach Corey Gipson's inaugural staff, March 2023. Ward also is in his first season as associate head coach, while maintaining his duties as the program's recruiting coordinator, prior to the 2025-26 season.
Ward served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator alongside Gipson at Northwestern State in 2022-23, helping turn around a Demon’s program that won just nine games prior to their arrival into a 22-11 program that earned the No. 2 seed in the 2023 Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Championship. The 13-win turnaround is the largest in the program’s 47-year history.
The Demons had two All-Southland selections last season in DeMarcus Sharp – the Southland Conference Player and Newcomer of the Year, All-Defensive Team selection, and Lou Henson Award finalist – and Ja’Monta Black, who received Second Team All-Conference honors. The duo also was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All-District 22 Team.
Prior to arriving in Natchitoches, Louisiana, Ward was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Moberly Area Community College (2021-22), where he helped lead the Greyhounds to a 28-7 record and Midwest District and Region 16 Championship titles. MACC also advanced to the second round of the NJCAA National Tournament and had the league’s leading scorer in Sincere Parker.
Ward spent a season at Talladega College, helping coach to Tornadoes to a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Regular-Season Championship in 2020-21 after going 25-5 and 7-1 GCAC play. Talladega advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament in Ward’s lone season there and had Darryl Baker earn NAIA All-America honorable mention honors.
Ward began his coaching career at Arkansas Tech (2019-20), where he helped coach RJ Glasper – a Second Team Great American Conference selection.
Ward was a graduate assistant at his alma mater of William Woods (2016-19). During his collegiate career, Ward played for WWU’s men’s basketball and track and field team.
In addition to coaching at the collegiate level, Ward also coached numerous AAU teams from 2014-22, with over 20 of his players going on to play at the Division I level.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management in 2018 and his master's degree in education in athletics/activities administration in 2020.
Ward’s Coaching Career
Austin Peay (2023-Pres.) – Assistant Coach
Northwestern State (2022-23) – Assistant Coach
Moberly Area Community College (2021-22) – Assistant Coach
Talladega College (2020-21) – Assistant Coach
Arkansas Tech (2019-20) – Assistant Coach
William Woods (2016-19) – Graduate Assistant
