Orono, Maine -- Adam Ward, former cross country and track & field head coach at Augusta University in Augusta, Ga., has been named the head coach of the men's and women's cross country and track and field programs at the University of Maine.
 
"I am very excited to accept this position at the University of Maine," says Ward. "I'm thankful to Ken Ralph, Samantha Hegmann-Ward, and all of the coaches and support staff who have made my family and I feel so welcome. I'm eager to get started and I cannot wait to see what we can build at UMaine so the student-athletes, campus and alumni will be proud of our program. Go Black Bears!"
 
After leading the Augusta University cross country teams to conference, regional, and national recognition, Ward expanded his coaching responsibilities by accepting the head coaching role for men's and women's outdoor track & field when the programs began in 2013.
 
The 2021 cross country season, Ward's 18th at Augusta, marked another Peach Belt Conference championship and Runner of the Year Awards for both the men's and women's programs. The men's and women's teams finished top 10 in the region and qualified for the NCAA Southeast Regionals. Two runners represented Augusta at the NCAA National Championships, while Ward would be honored as the Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year for the 11th time.
 
In 2020, the team carded its fifth Peach Belt Conference championship. Six runners were named to the PBC All-Conference team, including the PBC men's and women's runner of the year.
 
The Jaguars had 12 student-athletes earn All-Conference honors in 2019 for women's and men's track & field, while setting seven new school records. Augusta's track teams combined for 11 Peach Belt All-Conference honors and five All-Region accolades in 2018.
 
In 2017, Ward led 12 Jaguars to All-Conference honors and seven to NCAA All-Region. Both the men's and women's teams finished top 10 in the region rankings in 2017 and 2018.
 
During the 2015-16 seasons, the Jaguar men and women combined for 11 top-10 finishes, six top-five places, and combined for seven on the PBC All-Academic Team.
 
During their third full year of competition in 2014-15, the men's track team earned their first national ranking ever with No. 28 by USTFCCCA. The PBC Freshman of the Year was won by Augusta University and the team posted the best finish ever at PBC Championships (4^th). The Jags set 13 school records and three were named PBC All-Academic.
 
In the women's third year in 2015, they finished in the top 10 in all six regular-season meets and took sixth at PBC Championship. The ladies set 14 school records over the year and three were named PBC All-Academic
 
In 2013, Ward assembled the first outdoor track & field team that the university had ever witnessed. The Jaguars booked eight meets in their inaugural season, facing off against Division-I titans like the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Duke, and Clemson. The Jaguar men took sixth at the Peach Belt Conference Championships and the women eighth.
On April 16, 2013, Jaguar runner Jaiden Brandt earned All-Region honors by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Ward's commitment to the program helped lead Dustin Ross to the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pueblo, Colo., on May 23.
 
A 2001 graduate of Murray State University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, Ward served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Jaguar cross country program in 2003. He assisted the Murray State cross country program in a similar role in 2001. He is a USA Track and Field Level II certified coach in Sprints, Hurdles, Relays and Endurance Events. Ward earned his master's degree in Health & Physical Education from Augusta State in 2005.
 
Ward is a former president of the running club, Augusta Striders. As an at-large member of the Augusta Sports Council Events and Planning Committee, he was involved in the design of the original course for the Augusta Chronicle Half-Marathon that was first staged in October, 2008.
 
A former Peach Belt Conference representative to the USTFCCCA (U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) on the DII Executive Council, Ward was also an at-large member of the USTFCCCA Division II Awards Committee.
 
He is married to the former Ashlynn Young of Augusta, Ga. They are the parents of a son, Carter, and a daughter, Mary Blake.
 
-UMaine-