Fans say goodbye to coach Ward

Posted on April 21, 2015

Lyons predicted Ward was on track for a head coaching job. (WJBC photo/Terry James)

By Terry James

NORMAL – Pictures and videos of Illinois State associate men’s basketball coach Torrey Ward were on display as a memorial was held Monday night for the coach who died in a Bloomington plane crash.

Hundreds were at the gathering.

Ward’s mother, fiance, and even his children greeted hundreds of mourners Monday night at the Hancock Stadium Club in Normal.

ISU Director of Athletics Larry Lyons said Ward was on track for a successful future.

“He was going to be a head coach one of these days,” said Lyons. “I know he had interviews in Indianapolis earlier in the weekend and we had high hopes for that because he was maturing as a coach and that was where his career was going to take him. It’s just unfortunate that he didn’t get to reach those goals. He was a great guy who was liked by our staff. He had a great reputation in this community and this community loves its basketball coaches. There’s no doubt about that.”

Ward’s funeral was April 12 in his hometown of Birmingham.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

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