The 2020-21 season marks the 19h year at App State for coach David Ward, who is a 1979 graduate of Appalachian, where he was a six-time All-Southern Conference performer in the pole vault. While at Appalachian State, he was the indoor and outdoor record holder, posting performances of 15-6 indoor and 16-2 outdoor as well as being named team MVP and team captain.

Ward also attended Santa Fe Jr. College where he was a national finalist in the indoor and outdoor junior college National Championships in 1976.

He graduated from Olympic High School in Charlotte, N.C. in 1974 and was the Conference, regional and state champion in the pole vault and set the North Carolina High School record of 15’.

Coach Ward spent 11 years as a high school track, cross country, and strength and conditioning coach. He has coached individual state champions in indoor and outdoor track, and cross country in addition to coaching conference, regional and state championship teams in cross country, and conference championships teams in track.