UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s tennis head coach Bruce Lipka announced the hiring of assistant coach Brian Ward to the Nittany Lion Coaching Staff.
"When we started looking for a new member of our coaching staff, I was very clear in my mind of the characteristics and values a coach needed to have," said Lipka. "Brian checked all the boxes. Having been an associate head coach in the SEC, after several other high-profile positions, he brought a deep and vast skill set to State College."
"He is a superb developer of players and has coached on quarterfinal day at grand slams. He has excelled as a fundraiser and he has created a thriving tennis community at every stop of his career and more importantly, his integrity and work ethic are beyond compare. We are incredibly fortunate to have Brian in Happy Valley as we move the men's tennis program forward."
During the 2023-24 season, Ward served as associate head coach for Missouri women’s tennis.
At Missouri, he guided a player to as high as No. 60 in the ITA Singles rankings and one doubles pair to as high as No. 16 in the ITA Doubles Rankings.
He also serves as a private tennis coach. At the 2023 US Open, he coached Rob Galloway to the Quarterfinals in doubles. He helped Galloway to reach an ATP Tour career high ranking of 43.
Prior to Missouri, Ward was an assistant coach for Colorado women’s tennis from 2021-23. During his time in Boulder, the Buffalos defeated six ranked teams, including No. 16 Washington in 2023. Colorado appeared in the ITA rankings for five weeks in 2023, the most in nine seasons, and reached a season-high ranking of No. 52.
In 2023, Colorado earned its most season wins (13) in over 15 years and won a match in the Pac-12 tournament for the first time in 13 years. Colorado was invited to the Universal Tennis National Invitational Tournament.
Ward served as assistant women’s tennis coach at Minnesota for the 2018-20 seasons. With Ward’s help, the Gophers rose 20 spots in the national rankings each season.
In 2020, helped Minnesota to a No. 41 ranking in the ITA Poll and a win over No. 21 Wisconsin, the program’s highest-ranked win in 17 years. Guided Dalila Said to an All-Big Ten first team selection.
Led the Gophers to a 12-2 home record in 2018 and a 11-1 home record in 2019. Minnesota earned wins over No. 29 Northwestern in 2019 and No. 30 Ohio State in 2018. Coached Caroline Ryba to an All-Big Ten selection in 2018.
Ward was an assistant coach for Penn Men’s Tennis for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
In January 2017, multiple Penn players were ranked in the ITA Singles Poll for the first time in program history. Kyle Mautner was named All-Ivy League first team in 2016 and 2017. Guided Nicholai Westergaard and Austin Kaplan to a No. 88 ranking in the final ITA Doubles Poll.
Ward was a member of the coaching staff for Georgetown Men’s and Women’s Tennis from 2012-15, serving as a volunteer assistant for the 2012-13 season and assistant coach for the 2013-15 seasons. He coached Victoire Saperstein to All-Big East honors in 2014 and 2015.
Ward served as recruiting coordinator at Missouri, Colorado, Minnesota and Penn. He helped Penn to sign the No. 24 recruiting class in the country in 2017 and the No. 23 recruiting class in 2016, while signing three blue chip-level recruits in 2018.
He was also assistant director for athletic events at Georgetown from 2012-13.
Ward started his playing career at Creighton and finished his playing career at Georgetown. He was a member of the Big East All-Academic Team in 2011 and 2012 and was a two-time ITA Scholar Athlete Award winner.
Ward earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgetown and his master’s degree in sports industry management from Georgetown.