ASU to Hire Former Steeler Ward as WR Coach

Arizona State is expected to hire former NFL All-Pro Hines Ward as their next wide receivers coach, according to ESPN.

Ward is a football lifer through and through and has coaching experience under his belt, making several stops along his journey. Last season, he was the head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas in the former XFL, who have now merged with the USFL to form the UFL, guiding his team to a 3-7 record. He was a wide receiver’s coach at Florida Atlantic and also spent time as an offensive assistant for the New York Jets.

Ward’s previous experience as a collegiate coach happened in 2021 when he worked with the wide receivers under former FAU coach Willie Taggart. He also worked as an offensive assistant with the Jets from 2019-20 and began his coaching career in 2017 as an offensive intern with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ward was head of football development for the Alliance of American Football in 2019 as well.

Ward was a superstar on the field and rose to prominence as a player both at the collegiate level with the Georgia Bulldogs and later in the NFL with the Steelers. He signed with Georgia in 1994 and quickly made his presence felt as a highly skilled threat that could do everything on the offensive side of the football. He played wide receiver, running back and, in 1995, even stepped in at quarterback before transitioning primarily to wide receiver over the last two seasons.

His 149 career catches and 1,965 yards ranked second in Georgia history at the time. His 3,870 all-purpose yards still rank second behind legendary running back Herschel Walker.

The Steelers selected Ward with the 92nd overall pick in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He went on to earn four Pro Bowl nods, three second-team All-Pro selections and was the MVP of Pittsburgh’s 21-10 win against Matt Hasselbeck and the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 40 in the 2005 season. Ward concluded his career with 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns and is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame.

At Arizona State, Ward will work under coach Kenny Dillingham, who is going into his second year with the program. Arizona State went 3-9 in Dillingham’s first year. Ward’s hiring also coincides with what will be Arizona State’s inaugural season in the Big 12, as it is moving on from the Pac-12 after 45 years with the conference gone as we know it.

Ward will oversee and inherit a wide receiver room that is considered one of the most talented units in the program. It features veteran transfer Jake Smith, leading returning receiver Elijhah Badger and Colorado transfer Jordyn Tyson.

Arizona State opens the season against Wyoming on August. 31.