James Ward is a graduate of Riverview High School, Dodge City Junior College, Bethel College, and National Louis University. James Ward has spent his entire life being dedicated to youth enrichment, athletics, and education for young people. In 1977, he began his post collegiate career as the Director of Recreation at the Northeast Complex Community Center in Winter Haven. He soon became the Director of Recreation of the entire city— to include the Southeast Complex. After his time in Winter Haven, he came back to Sarasota—his hometown— and began working as a special education teacher at the Happiness House. He soon got a position at Riverview High School where he would become a coach for JV Basketball and Football in 1982.Ward has always believed that to become good productive people and citizens, students need good coaches and teachers. So he tried to become that person. In 1981, Ward became an assistant varsity football coach at Riverview High School. In 1984, he was promoted to head track coach at Riverview High School and in 1987, his head basketball coaching career atRiverview High School began. After teaching and coaching for several years at Riverview High School, he took on a new role at the same institution in 2009— Athletic Director, creating the Riverview High School Hall of Fame in 2010.Since retiring from Riverview High School, Ward has served as the Athletic Director at Booker Middle School, starting a boys and girls soccer camp and flag football program. He also spearheaded a lacrosse program at Emma E. Booker in 2019.Ward is currently on the Board of Directors for Bethel College. Ward is a member of the National Black Coaches Association, National Athletic Association, and the National Recreation Association.Read more about this authorRead less about this author