Lorenzo Ward

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1967)}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Lorenzo Ward

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| current_title = Special assistant to the head coach

| current_team = Clemson Tigers

| current_conference = ACC

| contract =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|4|26|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Greensboro, Alabama, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater =

| player_years1 = 1986–1989

| player_team1 = Alabama

| player_positions = Strong safety, linebacker

| coach_years1 = 1991

| coach_team1 = Alabama (GA)

| coach_years2 = 1994–1998

| coach_team2 = Chattanooga (DB)

| coach_years3 = 1999–2005

| coach_team3 = Virginia Tech (DB)

| coach_years4 = 2006–2007

| coach_team4 = Oakland Raiders (ST/assistant DB)

| coach_years5 = 2008

| coach_team5 = Arkansas (DB)

| coach_years6 = 2009–2015

| coach_team6 = South Carolina (DC)

| coach_years7 = 2016

| coach_team7 = Fresno State (DC)

| coach_years8 = 2017–2018

| coach_team8 = Louisville (AHC/DB)

| coach_years9 = 2018

| coach_team9 = Louisville (interim HC)

| coach_years10 = 2019–2023

| coach_team10 = Chattanooga (DC)

| coach_years11 = 2024–present

| coach_team11 = Clemson (special assistant)

| overall_record = 0–2

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards =

| coaching_records =

}}

Lorenzo Ward (born April 26, 1967) is an American college football coach who serves as a special assistant to the head coach for the Clemson Tigers. Ward served as the interim head football coach at the University of Louisville for the final two games of the 2018 season following the firing of Bobby Petrino. Ward played college football at the University of Alabama from 1986 to 1989.

Playing career

Ward was born and raised in Greensboro, Alabama. A 1991 graduate of the University of Alabama, Ward played for the Crimson Tide from 1986 to 1989 under head coaches Ray Perkins (1986) and Bill Curry (1987-89).

Coaching career

Ward's first job was at his alma mater as a graduate assistant during the Tide's 1991 season. Ward then worked for the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga from 1994 to 1998.

In 1999, Ward was hired by Frank Beamer to join Virginia Tech's coach staff. Here, Ward coached the secondary and had five all-Big East players and one all-ACC player, including DeAngelo Hall. During his last year, the Hokies led the nation in total defense, allowing just 247.6 yards per game.{{cite web |title=Meet Lorenzo Ward, Louisville football's new interim coach |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/2018/11/11/what-you-need-know-new-louisville-interim-football-coach-lorenzo-ward/1968003002/ |website=The Courier-Journal |language=en}}

Ward then joined the Oakland Raiders for the 2006 before rejoining the college ranks at Arkansas (2008) and then as defensive coordinator at South Carolina from 2012 to 2015 under Steve Spurrier.{{cite web |title=Lorenzo Ward - 0 Coach - University of Louisville Athletics |url=https://gocards.com/coaches.aspx?rc=446 |website=University of Louisville Athletics}}

Ward spent the 2016 season as the defensive coordinator at Fresno State before being hired by Louisville in 2017 as secondary coach.

On November 11, 2018, Louisville fired Bobby Petrino after the team's 2–8 start. Ward was named interim head coach and coached his first game in this role against N.C. State on November 17, 2018.{{cite web |title=Louisville football fires coach Bobby Petrino |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2018/11/11/amid-miserable-season-louisville-fires-coach-bobby-petrino/1955536002/ |website=The Courier-Journal |language=en}}

On June 4, 2019, the Chattanooga re-hired him to be the defensive coordinator.{{cite web |title=Wright Names Lorenzo Ward Defensive Coordinator |url=https://gomocs.com/news/2019/6/4/football-wright-names-lorenzo-ward-defensive-coordinator.aspx?path=fb |website=GoMocs.com | date=June 4, 2019 |accessdate=22 July 2019}}

On May 9, 2024, Clemson announced the hiring of Ward as the special assistant to the head coach for Dabo Swinney. {{cite web |title= Former South Carolina DC Lorenzo Ward joins Clemson staff in key off-field role |url= https://www.on3.com/college/clemson-tigers/news/former-south-carolina-defensive-coordinator-lorenzo-ward-joining-clemson-staff-dabo-swinney/ | website=on3.com | date=May 9, 2024}}