Looks like it’s official! Great hire by DT!
Kevin Ward
- Thread starter TheJimReaper
- Start date
Looks like it’s official! Great hire by DT!
This is a great replacement for Gilman. Sucks losing someone of Gilman ability from the standpoint of ability to get in the room and wrestle but I think the coaching staff got better with this hire. This plus Roper are a good couple of additions.
Wrestled at OSU from 2001-2006 and won a Big XII title at 157. He has been head coach at Army for the past 11 seasons.
I know DT has said in the past that they want coaches who can get on the mat and roll with guys, and I also know that a 40-something Kevin Ward probably can’t roll with lightweight guys like he used to. HOWEVER, when you have Daton Fix and RBY in your RTC, that becomes much less of a concern. Jax even spoke on Baschimania about how Daton is one of the best wrestling minds he’s ever worked with.
Excited about what Ward brings to the team. God knows how much easier recruiting and managing talent just got for him.
Excited about what Ward brings to the team. God knows how much easier recruiting and managing talent just got for him.
I like the hire. To the extent last year's staff was short on anything on paper, it was maturity. Ward's experience and discipline (I am assuming discipline is a strong suit due to the Army connection) might improve us in a few small areas that we didn't have covered last year.
TG didn't always jive with everybody during the year. I don't think there is bad blood or anything, but things were troublesome relationship wise on occasion...don't know who was at fault, if anybody...just wasn't a fit.
Kevin will do his job, do it well and be a huge benefit to the Program (my opinion.) I said all of that above to point out that this is an upgrade in terms of continuity and what is best for the Program.
He's not considered a light weight, light weight coach or even just a LW. Pretty sure he can hold his liquor. He wrestled for John for gosh sakes!
He must be a great recruiter.
In 2025 he signed #33 Joseph Antonio (165)
In 2026, this is the current list of Army commits:
In 2025 he signed #33 Joseph Antonio (165)
In 2026, this is the current list of Army commits:
#12 Joseph Uhorchuk (141)
#63 Cash Colbert (197)
#66 Evan Sanati (141)
#76 Christopher Creason (157/165)
#79 Ashton Besmer (149)
#90 Curtis Zion Borge (141/149)
On top of that he has over a decade of experience building and managing a college program. His and Roper's experience will be great for the program.My opinion is that he will be a great fit for this program. He was an Academic Al-American in college and obtained a Master's degree. He was a graduate assistant for John his last year on the team and he was a Big 12 Champion. He was hailed as a master fund raiser when he took over the head coaching job at Ouachita Baptist and in the past year he worked to get major funding for Army when the Class of 1972 endowed a $1,000,00 fund for the Army wrestling program. My take on this is that in addition to coaching he will be working on getting more financial backing for the program and the ROTC. My two year career in ROTC blossomed into 3 as the only course I failed at OK State was ROTC because I hated drill and had a friend that was counting me present at drill and then he left school so I had to retake 2nd semester ROTC my senior year to graduate. I guess this experience made me type ROTC rather than RTC above. It was a traumatic experience then and apparently still lingers to this day.
Last edited:
Our ROTC has been underfunded far too long. Fake looking muskets, tattered flags, and worn out uniforms. Great that we brought in an Army guy to breathe some life back into it.
IMO, we got better today. I'll take KW over TG everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. Nothing wrong with TG, I just think KW is a better fit.
I’m pretty sure we hit it out of the park with these coaches. I liked Gilman but if his ideology is not in line with DT and company, then let’s find someone who fits the bill better. An assistant coach needs to be a company man, not a loose cannon.
Totally agree. With a RTC very healthy, the only knock on the current staff was experience and some of the things you can only learn with OTJ experience.
Ward brings this in spades. Was a very successful HC for a decade and would of been on a short list of HC candidates for several Big 10, ACC and Big 12 jobs had they come open.
Home run type of hire here.
Well he didn't at Utah V ... Gilman got his hands on it. Think he learned an early lesson there.
I guess I should clarify for later grads of OK State that in 1964 when I graduated ROTC was not an option as OK State was a land grant college and was obligated to have 2 years of ROTC to graduate. I do not know the year it was waived but probably not long after that. I know that in the spring of 1964 this was the only course I was required to finish to graduate.
I ended up taking 12 hours which included an art appreciation course. What can I say, I am a lover not a fighter.
I ended up taking 12 hours which included an art appreciation course. What can I say, I am a lover not a fighter.
It’s good to see you posting!
Not overly familiar with Ward’s coaching other than the amazing job at Army that he’s done. What’s his story? High School guy 1st?
Pretty sure Kevin wasn't brought in to roll with the guys necessarily. More about his familiarity with the day-to-day admin tasks.
KW has run a wrestling program for most of his adult life and has been successful doing so.
...great, great hire who knows national recruiting, especially in the northeast where there are many wrestlers.....plus as long as he has been there, the folks might understand his speech a little better...........best to him and all..........rs