Tom Ward enters his second season as assistant coach for the Arizona State women's gymnastics team. In his first year with the Gym Devils, Ward helped lead the team to it's highest postseason finish since 2006, coached an All-Pac-12 honoree, and had five athletes earn Pac-12 All-Academic honors. Ward also helped contribute to the Sun Devils major RQS score increase from 2011 to 2012, helping label Arizona State the most improved gymnastics team in the nation in 2012.
Ward comes to Arizona State from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, where he served for three seasons as an assistant coach for the Golden Flashes. Coming off the best season in school history, Kent State finished the season ranked 12th in the nation, its highest-ever national finish. The Golden Flashes reached the national championships for the first time in school history in 2011 after placing second at the Ann Arbor Regional.
Ward was named the 2011 NACGC/W National Assistant Coach of the Year for his work with the Kent State Golden Flashes.
At Kent State, Ward worked primarily with gymnasts on vault, bars and floor.
Prior to returning to his alma mater to coach, Ward spent 17 years as a private club coach and owner in Ohio and Florida. An accomplished gymnast in his own right, Ward competed from 1988-91 for Kent State in the All-Around. Ward and his wife Tonya have a daughter named Kendra.