Mike Ward is in his fourth season as the linebackers coach and seventh season overall for the University of Toledo. Ward’s guiding hand with the linebackers has been key in keeping the Rockets’ defense among the leaders of the Mid-American Conference.
In 2018, Ward worked with a veteran linebacker corps, led by senior Richard Olekanma, who paced the team with 86 tackles, along with junior Jordan Fisher (60) and senior Tyler Taafe (53 tackles). Fisher is a converted tight end who figures to be among the top linebackers in the Mid-American Conference this season.
Ward’s linebacker crew played a key role the Rockets’ 2017 MAC Championship season. Senior Jack Linch led the team with 75 tackles, while senior Ja’Wuan Woodley added 66 stops and 4.5 tackles for loss. Taafe and Olekanma chipped in with 48 and 45 tackles, respectively. UT’s defense held MAC opponents to 21 points or fewer in six of their seven league victories, and shut out Akron through most of three quarters in the MAC Championship Game.
In 2016, Ward helped guide the Rockets’ defense to a No. 4 ranking in the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense (25.7) en route to a 9-4 record and a berth in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. Toledo led the MAC in third-down conversions (34.7%), which ranked 23rd nationally. Ward helped guide Woodley to a memorable junior season. Woodley was a third-team All-MAC selection and ranked second on the team in tackles (79) and tackles for loss (13.0).
This is Ward’s second stint at Toledo. He was the co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at UT from 2009-11 before leaving to coach linebackers at Illinois from 2012-15. He returned in 2016 to rejoin head coach Jason Candle, who was an assistant with Ward at UT from 2009-11.
A 34-year veteran of the coaching profession, Ward guided two Illinois linebackers — T.J. Neal and Mason Monheim — to honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2015. In 2014, Monheim was honorable mention All-Big Ten after he led the team with 111 tackles and paced the Big Ten in forced fumbles with four, while fellow linebacker Jonathan Brown earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.
Ward guided Monheim to a stellar freshman campaign in 2012, as the rookie linebacker earned second-team Freshman All-America honors from Phil Steele after leading the Illini and all Big Ten newcomers with 86 tackles. Monheim ended his career in 2015 with 392 tackles, the seventh-most in Illinois history.
Ward was the assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Toledo from 2009-11 and was instrumental in the rapid development of the Rockets’ defense. In 2010 and 2011, the Toledo defense ranked among the national leaders in turnovers forced and turnover margin. In 2010, the Rockets forced 34 turnovers, the fifth-highest takeaway total in the nation and 13 more than the previous season. That total included 20 interceptions, the eighth-most in the country. In 2011, Toledo forced 28 turnovers and had the nation’s third-best turnover margin (1.33).
The defensive turnaround helped propel Toledo to an 8-5 record and its first bowl appearance in five years in 2010, and an 9-4 season in 2011, including a share of the MAC West Division title and a berth in the Military Bowl. Ward, who coached the linebackers, also helped guide five players to All-MAC honors in 2010 and 2011.
Prior to his initial coaching stint at Toledo, Ward spent 17 years as an assistant at Bowling Green, including the final two as the defensive coordinator. He began as the program’s strength coach from 1992-99 before coaching the defensive linemen from 2000-06 and serving as the defensive coordinator in 2007-08. From 2000-08, Ward coached one All-American, one Academic All-American and nine All-MAC performers. The Falcons had six winning seasons and played in three bowl games during that span. In 2008, Ward helped guide BGSU to a No. 2 ranking in total defense in the conference.
Prior to becoming a Falcon, Ward was the defensive line coach and strength coach at the University of Findlay for six seasons from 1986-91. Ward also coached at his alma mater, Georgetown (Ky.) College for two years from 1984-85. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Georgetown in 1984. He also earned his master’s degree in secondary education from Georgetown in 1986. He was a two-time captain and NAIA Division I All-American at Georgetown. He was inducted into the Georgetown Hall of Fame in 2015.
A native of Mansfield, Ohio, Ward attended Mansfield Lexington High School. Ward and his wife Jody have two children, Michaela and Addison.
Mike Ward’s Coaching Experience
2016-19 Toledo - Linebackers
2012-15 Illinois - Inside Linebackers
2009-11 Toledo - Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2007-08 Bowling Green - Defensive Coordinator
2000-06 Bowling Green - Defensive Line
1992-99 Bowling Green - Strength and Conditioning Coach
1986-91 Findlay - Defensive Line/Strength and Conditioning
1984-85 Georgetown (Ky.) - Assistant Coach/Strength and Conditioning Coach
