(St. Mary’s City, MD) St. Mary’s College of Maryland Director of Sailing Bill Ward has been named the 2016 winner of the Sail1Design Coach of the Year, presented by Henri-Lloyd. The announcement was made today by S1D.
“We couldn’t be more proud of our exceptional coach Bill Ward,” said St. Mary’s College Head Coach Adam Werblow. “Bill’s expertise and attention to detail has helped so many student-athletes to achieve greatness. Assistant Coach Conner Blouin and I are so honored to be able to work with Bill and the Seahawks every day.”
Sail1Design staff chooses the annual winner only from reader nominations. Nominees are required to embody the characteristics of logistics, organization, energy, leadership, passion, creativity, patience, dedication, motivational skill and humility, among others.
Ward’s nomination included the following quote from a sailor on the team for St. Mary’s College: “Bill Ward has stood out as one of the best coaches in college sailing. He has been able to stay motivated year after year leading to reach the podium of team race nationals almost every year. He has been able to develop a technical training program and with his detailed guidance after every race or drill, his sailors are able to become some of the best sailors in the country.”
Ward joined the St. Mary’s College of Maryland coaching staff in 2006. In nearly 15 years of collegiate coaching, Ward’s teams have won five national championships. He also coached Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where he was named the National Coach of the Year by the U.S. Olympic Sailing Committee. He was on the coaching staff of the U.S. Sailing Team for the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ward also served as the team leader/head coach for the U.S. Inter Collegiate Sailing Association Team competing in the BUSA Tour in England and Ireland in 2005.