Lorenzo Ward

Title

Assistant Coach - Defensive Coordinator
Phone

423-425-4494
Twitter

@LorenzoLWard

Start Date: June 2019

Chattanooga Defenses

2022 unit led the Southern Conference in total defense (322.6 ypg), rushing (108.0), sacks (3.18), TFLs (7.4), first downs allowed (185) and fumbles recovered (11)
Top 10 Nationally in 2022 in sacks (5th) and rushing defense (9th)
2022 group posted 35.0 sacks which tied for second-most in school history with 2014, three behind 2016’s 38
2022 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year Jay Person headlined a defense that had eight of 11 starters honored between league and Phil Steele all-conference teams
2022 defense boasted three first team All-Americans in Person, Devonnsha Maxwell (DL) and Kam Brown (DB)
Brown tied for third in the country with six interceptions, while Person was ninth in TFLs (17.5)
2021 defense led SoCon in every major category: Scoring (17.1), Total (275.8), Rushing (122.3), Passing (153.5) and Pass Efficiency (114.6) along with Interceptions (15/1.4 ipg) and Sacks (32, 2.9 spg)
2021 unit included All-Americans Devonnsha Maxwell (DL, 1st team) and Brandon Dowdell (S, 2nd)
Seven of the 2021 defense’s 11 starters earned first (5) or second team (2) All-SoCon consideration
Led SoCon and ranked first in FCS in passing yards allowed (99.6) in 2020-21 as well as sixth in FCS in total defense (245.8), 12th in FCS in TFLs per game (8.8), 20th in pass efficiency defense (112.83) and 20th in fewest first downs allowed (72)
Second team All-America DL Devonnsha Maxwell tied for the SoCon lead with OLB Jay Person making 1.75 TFLs per contest in truncated 2020-21 campaign
2019: 25th nationally in passing yards (193.2) and tied for SoCon lead with 21 takeaways (10 FR/11 Int)
2019’s edition featured three first team All-SoCon picks: Maxwell, DB Brandon Dowdell & LB Marshall Cooper

Prior Experience

Louisville, Secondary/Interim Head Coach, 2018
Louisville, Secondary, 2017
Fresno State, Defensive Coordinator, 2016
South Carolina, Defensive Coordinator, 2009-15
Arkansas, Secondary, 2008
Oakland Raiders, Asst. DB/Special Teams, 2006
Virginia Tech, Defensive Backs, 1999-2005
Chattanooga, Defensive Backs, 1994-98
Alabama, Graduate Assistant, 1991

Playoffs/Bowl Game

*2014 Independence Bowl (South Carolina)
2013 Capital One Bowl (South Carolina)
2012 Outback Bowl (South Carolina)
2011 Capital One Bowl (South Carolina)
2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl (South Carolina)
2009 PapaJohns.com Bowl (South Carolina)
2005 Gator Bowl (Virginia Tech)
2004 Sugar Bowl (Virginia Tech)
2003 Insight Bowl (Virginia Tech)
2002 San Francisco Bowl (Virginia Tech)
2001 Gator Bowl (Virginia Tech)
2000 Gator Bowl (Virginia Tech)
1999 Sugar Bowl (Virginia Tech)

*Listed by season not date of game for New Year’s bowls

Coaching Highlights

Coached DT Devonnsha Maxwell for four of his five playing seasons at Chattanooga as he set the school and Southern Conference record for career sacks (37.5)
16 defensive backs that went onto the NFL including first round picks DeAngelo Hall (Virginia Tech), Stephon Gilmore (South Carolina) and Jaire Alexander (Louisville)
Coordinated defensive efforts that features 2014 overall No. 1 pick Jadaveon Clowney (South Carolina) along with first-round selections Gilmore and Melvin Ingram
Four of his seven Gamecock units ranked top 25 nationally in both scoring and total defense including 12th in scoring in 2013 (2nd in SEC)
USC was No. 3 in total defense in 2011 (267.7 ypg) and 11th in scoring (18.4 ppg), 11th in 2012 total defense (315.5 ypg) and 12th in 2013 scoring (20.3 ppg)
2002 Hokies secondary led the nation in interceptions (24) and ranked second in 2000 (23)
Coordinator: One Defensive Player of the Year, 11 first team All-Conference (SEC/SoCon) and six All-America
Secondary Coach: 11 first team All-Conference (SoCon/BIG EAST/ACC)

Personal
Wife: Tara
Hometown: Greensboro, Ala.

Son Lorenzo, Jr., played at The Citadel leading the Bulldogs in rushing in 2018 amassing more than 1,000 yards for his career

Collegiate Career
Alma Mater: Alabama ‘91
Sports Played: Football

1989 Sporting News Special Teams Player of the Year
Helped Crimson Tide to 36-13 record during career (1986-89)
1989 SEC Co-Champs
Played for Ray Perkins (1986) and Bill Curry (1989)
2-2 in bowl games winning the 1986 and 1988 Sun Bowls while losing the 1985 Aloha and 1990 Sugar Bowls