Championship-winning North Carolina high school coach and App State alum Lance Ware was named tight ends coach by head coach Shawn Clark in January 2024 after serving five seasons as the program's senior assistant to the head coach from 2019-23.

During the 2024 regular season, tight ends Max Drag, Kanen Hamlett, David Larkins and Eli Wilson all scored touchdowns in Sun Belt play, with Wilson making All-Sun Belt honorable mention following a five-touchdown season. Hamlett’s go-ahead touchdown in the final three minutes against Georgia State was his second career catch, and Drag’s touchdown in the final two minutes against ODU was his first career catch. Hamlett and Drag made their first career starts in a set with two tight ends as Wilson and Larkins were sidelined against ODU.

Before coaching the tight ends, Ware assisted head coaches Eliah Drinkwitz and Clark with all aspects of organization and running the football program, helping App State win a Sun Belt championship, make two additional conference title game appearances, earn four bowl berths and win three bowl trophies.
  
As head coach of Shelby High School just outside of Charlotte from 2011-18, Ware compiled a 99-25 overall record over eight seasons and won five state championships in his last six years.
 
Ware led the Golden Lions to 2A state championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and 2AA state titles in 2016 and 2018. During his eight-year tenure, Shelby went 33-3 in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association playoffs. In 2022, he was inducted into the Cleveland County Sports Hall of Fame.
 
During his 22 total seasons coaching at Shelby, the Golden Lions played for 11 state titles, winning eight. 
 
A four-year letterman at App State under head coach Jerry Moore from 1992-96, Ware was the Mountaineers' long snapper for four seasons. In 1995, Ware helped the Mountaineers go undefeated in the regular season and win a Southern Conference title while playing alongside Clark as well as College Football Hall of Famer Dexter Coakley.
  
Ware and his wife, Catherine, have three children – Reece, Stockton and Presley.

WARE AT A GLANCE

Coaching Experience
1997-2000: Shelby H.S. (Assistant coach)
2001-10: Shelby H.S. (Defensive coordinator)
2011-18: Shelby H.S. (Head coach and athletic director)
2019-23: App State (Senior assistant to the head coach)
2024: App State (Tight ends)
 
Playing Experience
1992-96: App State (Long snapper)
 
Alma Mater: App State, 1997
Hometown: Shelby, N.C.
Birthdate: Dec. 13, 1973
Wife: Catherine
Children: Reece, Stockton, Presley
Twitter: @lgware