XC Coach Ward takes post at the University of Maine
By Chris Rickerson | Sports writer
Highly successful Augusta University cross-country coach Adam Ward is moving on to the University of Maine.
Ward told his team over the weekend that he had accepted a post with the Bears and released the information on social media. The Maine athletics website announced the hiring on Tuesday, Aug. 9.
As he did at AU, Ward will also coach track and field for the Bears.
“It is unbelievable what this program in Augusta means to me and my family,” Ward said. “It is really tough to express how bittersweet it is to leave this program. I love what we’ve done here and love my student athletes, but it is tough for sure.”
Beginning in 2003, Ward coached 18 seasons at AU and won six cross-country conference titles. His 2019 team finished ninth at the NCAA Division II championships in California. That same year, women’s runner Micah Weathers finished in 44th place in the nationals—the highest finish ever by a Jaguar runner in the national championship races, just four places off all-America status.
Along with the ninth place finish in 2019 in the NCAA Championship for the men, Ward also helped lead the women’s cross-country team to nationals in 2008 for the first time in school history. Ward was emotional when looking back at all the memories and said this is one he will never forget.
“You think I would say the ninth-place finish and that ranks up there, but that first women’s team to go to nationals in 2008; I get choked up thinking about it,” Ward said. “That was a very special moment because people thought this program was never going to be any good, and I was wasting my time. Seeing the look on those faces; it was just truly special and that was a memory I will always have.”
The Jaguar men just missed making the nationals last season, although Peach Belt champion Kai Brickey did advance to the Division II championships in Florida.
Brickey has been one of the top runners at AU since he began his journey in 2018. He says he is excited for Ward’s next opportunity.
“I’m stoked for Coach Ward,” Brickey said. “I know this is a big opportunity for him and I’m super excited to see how he does up north. As a fifth-year senior, I’m not too upset about it since this semester is a gift in itself eligibility-wise. I’m just happy to still be here competing.”
Brickey says he learned many things from Ward, and he meant a lot to him and university.
“Coach Ward has meant a lot to all of us, but above all he’s defined a culture of pushing beyond what you think is possible,” Brickey said. “Learning to trust the process and above all else, yourself—that’s what coach left us with.”
Ward also coached Mackenzie Taylor to a perfect season in 2020. Taylor was a transfer student who made the switch from soccer to distance running.
Many of the current athletes say they will miss Ward, but are excited to see what he does with this next opportunity.
“While I’m sad he won’t be my coach anymore, I’m excited for Coach Ward to get this opportunity. He deserves everything the University of Maine has to offer and more,” said Carlos Rodriguez, a junior cross-country and track runner at AU.
Rodriguez also thanked Ward and says he was very grateful to have him as a coach.
“Coach Ward means a lot to me,” Rodriguez said. “He believed in me and took a chance on me as an inexperienced runner and I’m forever grateful for that. He’s helped me improve beyond what I thought I’d ever be capable of.”
Ward now heads to the University of Maine, where he says he is excited about all the resources and to continue his career.
“I think the thing for me that was a deciding factor ultimately was that I have been wanting resources for the program, and I just don’t want to pass up this opportunity where I see a lot of those resources I have been wanting,” Ward said. “There is also so many more student resources. They’ve got so many academic support staff, athletic trainers, locker rooms and more. They have also got some programs that are exciting that a lot of runners that I have had in the past have been wanting to do, but we couldn’t recruit them because we didn’t have them.”
University of Maine, located in Orono, competes in NCAA Division I and is a Research 1 university with approximately 11,500 students.
As for AU, a new coach is yet to be announced for cross-country and track and field. Interim Athletic Director Melissa Brocato says they are currently working on selecting a new coach for both sports.
“We’re working on it, but I can’t confirm at this time,” Brocato said.
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
