Jim Ward (American football coach)

James B. Ward Jr. (January 2, 1948 – April 26, 2001) was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at the University at Buffalo from 1992 to 1994,^[1][2][3] compiling a record of 8–24.^[4]

Jim Ward

Biographical details
Born	(1948-01-02)January 2, 1948
Died	April 26, 2001(2001-04-26) (aged 53) Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1984–1988	Howard (OC)
1989–1990	Norfolk State (OC)
1991	Buffalo (OC)
1992–1994	Buffalo
Head coaching record
Overall	8–24

Before coaching at Buffalo, Ward was a football coach at Northwestern High School and Howard University.^[5] Following his tenure at the University at Buffalo, Ward held multiple positions, including physical education teacher and vice principal at Seneca Vocational High School, principal of Douglass High School, and County Youth Commissioner for Erie County, New York.^[6] He resigned from that position in 2000, after he pleaded guilty to accepting unemployment benefits while he was employed by the Buffalo Public Schools system.^[7][8]

Ward died in 2001 from a heart attack, while attending church services at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York.^[9]

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Buffalo Bulls (NCAA Division III independent) (1992–1994)
1992	Buffalo	4–6
Buffalo Bulls (NCAA Division I-AA independent) (1993–1994)
1993	Buffalo	1–10
1994	Buffalo	3–8
Buffalo:		8–24
Total:		8–24

References

1. Gaughan, Mark (February 25, 1992). "UB names James Ward interim head football coach". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
2. Harrington, Mike (December 15, 1992). "UB football decides to stay with Ward, interim label giving way to permanent position as Bulls move up". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
3. Harrington, Mike (December 16, 1992). "UB grid players elated as Ward gets three-year pact". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
4. Harrington, Mike (November 26, 1994). "Ward defends his record as UB coach, claims his program was judged too soon". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
5. Harrington, Mike (August 31, 1994). "UB'S Ward says pressure on him would be 'unfair'". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
6. Vogel, Charity (January 15, 2000). "Shared vision for youths draws Ward back to WNY". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
7. Vogel, Charity (June 8, 2000). "Youth official resigns after guilty plea in benefits case". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
8. Christian, Dick and Peter Simon (July 25, 2000). "Ex-youth official gets probation in aid theft". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
9. James B. Ward Jr. dies; coached UB football, held County - post. (2001, May 1). The Buffalo News, p. B5.