Trinity International University

Luke Ward was named the 17th head women's volleyball coach at Trinity International University in May of 2015. He was named the sixth head coach of the men's program in August of 2020, which will begin play in January 2022.

Since taking over the women's program, the Trojans have gone from just three wins in 2015, to 30 in 2022, improving their annual win total each of the first four seasons under Ward. With an 148-134 head coaching record with the women's team, Ward is the winningest volleyball coach in the program's 45-year history. TIU has qualified for the CCAC Tournament each of the last four seasons under Ward, reaching the semifinal round three times. The Trojans have become regulars in both the CCAC and NCCAA postseason thanks to five consecutive winning seasons, peaking with an NCCAA national championship in 2022.

After four straight seasons above the .500 mark in both conference and overall play, Ward’s squad broke through with a transcendent 2022 campaign. His Trojans went 30-9 overall and 13-4 in CCAC play while making it to the conference semifinal, but saved their best for last, closing out the season with an undefeated run in Point Lookout, Missouri to claim the program’s first NCCAA national title. Ward guided a well-oiled machine that was recognized as the CCAC’s lone Champions of Character Team while overseeing the continued development of a pair of fifth-year stars, conference Player of the Year Brianna Torres and Libero of the Year Jaylyn Freeman, both of whom, along with Trojan setter Anna Skrzypchak, were named to the all-conference first team. These exploits and his pivotal leadership helping to pilot Trinity’s magical campaign earned him NCCAA Coach of the Year recognition.

In 2021, Ward led the Trojans to their sixth NCCAA National Tournament appearance as well as their third trip to the CCAC semifinal round. Trinity completed the season with 21-18 overall record and 13-5 in the CCAC, earning their fourth straight year of 17 or more wins and back-to-back-to-back 13 win seasons in conference play. Post season rankings placed TIU 4^th in the CCAC and 9^th in the NCCAA. The Trojans had three student-athletes given postseason CCAC honors: Brianna Torres (1^st Team), Jaylyn Freeman (2^nd Team) and Matty Hawkins (2^nd Team).

During the COVID-19 shortened season of 2020, Trinity finished with 17 victories, their third straight year of 17 or more wins. The Trojans also posted back-to-back 13 win seasons in conference play for the first time in program history and finished third in the regular season standings, their best overall finish in the CCAC since the team's last regular season championship in 2004.

In 2019, the Trojan made a return trip to the NCCAA Tournament with a 27-13 record. In another landmark season for the program, TIU ranked 11th in the nation in digs, 15th in service aces, and 16th in assists. Trinity qualified for the CCAC Tournament once again and hosted the very first conference tournament match at Van Dixhorn Area, which resulted in a thrilling five-set win over the University of St. Francis. Despite falling in the conference tournament semifinals, the Trojans defeated Judson to win their first ever NCCAA North-Central Regional Championship to secure an automatic berth to the NCCAA Tournament.

In 2018, Ward helped guide the volleyball program to an appearance in the NCCAA Tournament in Point Lookout, Missouri after a 24-18 regular season record. This was the first time in eight years that the volleyball team made a national tournament appearance. The Trojans also made the CCAC Tournament for the first time in seven seasons making the CCAC Tournament Semifinals. The 2018 squad ended the season ranked third overall in conference and fifth in the nation in total service aces. The volleyball team also won the CCAC Champions of Character Award in 2018. 

With Ward at the helm, the volleyball program has produced 16 All-CCAC and 11 NCCAA North-Central All-Region selections. Additionally, 25 CCAC, 19 NCCAA, and 18 NAIA scholar-athletes have been honored for their academic success. Ward has had three student-athletes named to the CSC All-District Team. The Trojans also earned NAIA Scholar-Team honors in 2015 and 2021.

Prior to arriving at Trinity, Ward worked as an assistant coach at Olivet Nazarene University, where the Tigers appeared in three consecutive CCAC Tournaments, including the 2014 championship match, which helped qualify ONU for the NAIA Tournament. 

Ward has also worked with a number of volleyball clubs and previously owned First Contact Volleyball in Bourbonnais, Ill., for four years where he oversaw 12 coaches and as many as 100 athletes throughout the club. FCV’s focus was development and building character and the club saw several athletes go on to play at the collegiate level as well as had a 16s team win an Asics National Championship in 2018. 

Luke currently resides in Antioch, Illinois with wife Erin, his sons Nolan, Chase, and Adler and his daughter Sloane.  As a player himself, Ward was a four-year starter for the club team at Olivet Nazarene from 2005-2009. 


 

The Ward File (Women's Volleyball)

* The 2020 season was shortened and played in the winter/spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic