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David Ward, Pole Vault
Alma Mater: Appalachian, 1975
Years at ASU: Fifth Year

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Coach David Ward is a 1979 graduate of Appalachian, where he was a six-time All-Southern Conference performer in the pole vault. While at ASU he was the indoor and outdoor record holder, posting performances of 15’6’’ indoor and 16’2’’ outdooor as well as team MVP and team captain.

Ward also attended Santa Fe Jr. College where he was a national finalist in the indoor and outdoor junior college National Championships in 1976.
He graduated from Olympic High School in Charlotte, N.C. in
in 1974 and was the Conference, Regional and State champion in the pole vault and set the North Carolina High School record of 15’.

Coach Ward spent 11 years as a high school track, cross country, and strength and conditioning coach. He has coached individual state champions in indoor and outdoor track, and cross country. He has also coached conference, regional and state championship teams in cross country, and conference championships teams in track.

Ward has hosted National Strength and Conditioning (NCSA) Clinics, and has been a presenter at numerous track and field, strength training, and physical education workshops and clinics. He has directed regional, state, and open track meets, organized Charlotte Latin and Tailwind Track Clubs, served as a USA Certified Track Official at NCAA National Championship Meets, and has earned USA Track and Field Level I Coaching Certification. He has also published articles related to strength and conditioning topics.

After joining the track staff at Appalachian State University as a pole vault coach in the fall of 2003, Coach Ward has coached 5 Southern Conference Champions, 13 Indoor All - Southern Conference performers, 14 Outdoor All - Southern Conference performers, an Indoor National finalist, and an Outdoor regional finalist. New Indoor and Outdoor A.S.U. records were also established in the Women’s vault in 2004

Ward is a physical education teacher and resides in Boone with his wife Dawn, a nurse at Watauga Medical Center. They have three daughters Joy, Jennifer and Julie. The Ward family is actively involved in community and school projects and direct a Christian Ministry for students.




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