AMERICUS, Ga. - Georgia Southwestern State University head softball coach Eddie Ward has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2017 season. Ward has been at the helm of the Lady Hurricanes program for 14 seasons after spending one year as an assistant coach in 2003.
"Softball has been a part of my life for a long, long time," Ward said. "It's been absolutely terrific. I can't thank Randolph Barksdale enough for giving me the opportunity to coach here."
Ward recently reached a coaching milestone when he picked up his 300th victory.
"The Hurricane family thanks Coach Ward for his years of dedicated service to, investment in, and commitment to the university, the department, his coaches and student-athletes," GSW athletic director Mike Leeder said. "We wish Eddie all the best in the future."
The Lady Hurricanes made school history late in the 2009 season when they won the university's first NCAA Division II postseason game in any team sport, an opening round victory in the Peach Belt Conference tournament. Since GSW made the jump from NAIA to NCAA in 2006-07, Ward has coached seven PBC weekly award winners, 10 all-conference honorees and 18 all-academic performers.
"To watch these girls mature and move on," Ward said. "It's amazing the number of (former) players that I have now who have children that are eight, nine, and ten years old. It's been very rewarding."
Ward is a 1970 graduate of Therrell High School in Atlanta, Ga. He graduated from Georgia Southwestern in 1974 with a B.S. in Education. While at GSW, Ward played baseball for the Hurricanes for two years. He was also a member of the Blue Key Honor Society and Past Archon Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.
"This university has been a part of my life for 47 years," Ward said.
Ward is married to Betty Anne Scifres and has two daughters, Julie Anne Usher and Christie Ward.
A retirement celebration for Coach Ward and reunion of former GSW players will be held on Sunday, April 2, when the Lady Hurricanes host Armstrong State University at 1 p.m. The day before (April 1) is Senior Day for the softball team with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Flagler College.
"I'm going to miss the kids," Ward said. "They've kept me young. It's been a whole lot of fun."
A national search for his replacement will begin in April.
Additional comments from Coach Ward in our sit-down interview
Q: What's something you're looking forward to doing in retirement?
A: I used to always go to the NCAA Division I men's basketball regional tournament. Now I'll be able to go back. "March Madness" always takes place around the same time our conference schedule starts.
Q: Who are a few of the coaches you've built a strong relationship with over the years?
A. The one I've coached against the longest is Mike Davenport up at North Georgia. Mike and I have always had a good professional relationship, as well as a personal relationship. Hal Wynn over at Faulkner. I really missed Hal when we moved to the Peach Belt. Following the death of my father in 2006 and the terrible tornado here in 2007, the first person to contact me both times was Hal Wynn from Faulkner. I've made some good friends in the Peach Belt. I'm going to miss those conversations.
Q: How has it been to work side-by-side with your daughter, Christie (GSW associate athletic director for compliance and assistant softball coach), in both the office and at the field?
A. I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. If it hadn't been for Christie, I probably would have pulled this plug about three years ago. There are just a lot of things I can't do. I'm going to miss the discussions that she and I have. It's quite funny, because inside this building (athletic department offices), she is one of my bosses, but when we get on that field, I get to flip that around. But she still doesn't pay any attention to me (said jokingly). It's been a lot of fun.