Corona del Mar alumnus Ward receives high honor

Back in the day, Bill Ward helped guide success to Corona del Mar High. Now he’s doing it as a coach at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Ward, the captain of Corona del Mar’s 1992 national championship sailing team, was recently named 2007 National Coach of the Year by U.S. Sailing.

The award is part of the United States Olympic Committee’s Coach Recognition Program, which highlights the accomplishments and contributions of coaches who train athletes at all levels of sport.

As the assistant coach at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Ward was part of the coaching team that won three national titles in 2007.

“Last year was an amazingly successful year for the College’s sailing teams and for me,” Ward said in a press release. “It was a long battle with lots of obstacles, but we brought home the national championships in the sloop, team and women’s division.”

Ward also showcased his coaching skills when he traveled to Brazil for the Pan-American Games and coached the U.S. team to win two gold medals and a bronze.

“The highlight of the Pan-Am Games for me was Andrew Campbell edging out Brazilian Robert Scheidt — a two-time Olympic gold medalist — for the gold medal,” Ward said. “After 10 races, it came down to the last 100 feet of the last race. It was a thrilling victory.”

Last fall, Ward coached Laser sailor Campbell at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for sailing. After a tight battle for the Olympic berth, Campbell won.

Ward will attend the Olympics to coach Campbell in the Laser class.

“Next year,” Ward said. “I hope to continue to help the sailors I coach at St. Mary’s College and on the U.S. Sailing Team, Alpha Graphics, to achieve their ambitious goals.”

In 2007, Ward coached some of the most competitive events in the sport and still managed to sail in his spare time, winning the Lightning North American Championship.

Ward was an All-American in sailing at Georgetown University after finishing up his high school career at Corona del Mar.

In 1992, Ward helped the Sea Kings win the Baker Trophy, given to the nation’s top sailing team. Corona del Mar won the Sailing Team Racing Championships at Newport Harbor Yacht Club. It was the first time a West Coast school had won the Baker Trophy.

“I am thrilled that U.S. Sailing’s Olympic Sailing Committee has recognized what the 35 Seahawk sailors have known for the past year and a half — Bill Ward is one of the elite coaches in the United States,” said Adam Werblow, St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s head sailing coach. “We couldn’t be more fortunate to have him help lead our efforts on the water.”

The United States Sailing Assn. (U.S. Sailing) is the national governing body for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, R.I., the organization provides leadership for the sport of sailing in the United States.

The goals of the USOC’s Coaching Recognition Program are to recognize the accomplishments and contributions coaches make to sports at all levels of athlete development and to elevate the status of coaching as a profession.

— From staff reports