Kris Ward

Kris Ward
Personal information
Date of birth (1979-11-20) November 20, 1979 (age 45)[1][2]
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Union University Bulldogs
Managerial career
2004–2007 St. Mary's Seahawks men (assistant)
2004–2010 Washington Freedom (assistant)
2013 Washington Spirit (assistant)
2020–2021 Washington Spirit (assistant)
2021 Washington Spirit (interim)
2022 Washington Spirit

Kris Ward (born November 20, 1979) is an American soccer coach. He was most recently the head coach of the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Coaching career

Ward re-joined Washington Spirit as an assistant coach in August 2020.[3] After the Spirit's former head coach Richie Burke was suspended in August 2021, Ward served as acting head coach for the rest of the 2021 NWSL season and led the team to an NWSL Championship.[4] In December 2021, Ward was named the permanent head coach.[5]

On August 22, 2022, with the team holding a 1–6–9 record and on 12 points, second-fewest in the NWSL, the Spirit announced that Ward had been relieved of his duties with six games remaining in the season.[6] On January 24, 2023, it was revealed Ward was banned from coaching in the NWSL due to abusive conduct while with the Spirit.[7]

Coaching honors

Washington Spirit

References

  1. ^ Washington Spirit [@WashSpirit] (November 20, 2021). "Double the birthdays, double the fun! Happy birthday @KWardSpirit" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Goff, Steven (December 20, 2021). "Washington Spirit promotes Kris Ward to permanent head coach". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2021. Ward, 42, took over in mid-August...
  3. ^ Cavalier, Mason (August 24, 2020). "Kris Ward joins Spirit Technical Staff as Assistant Coach » Washington Spirit".
  4. ^ Cooper, Jen (November 21, 2021). "Four Things I Learned at the 2021 NWSL Championship".
  5. ^ Small, Jordan (December 20, 2021). "Washington Spirit Name Kris Ward Permanent Head Coach » Washington Spirit".
  6. ^ Vertelney, Seth (August 22, 2022). "Washington Spirit abruptly fire head coach Kris Ward". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "Former Spirit coach Kris Ward banned indefinitely from NWSL". Just Women's Sports. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-29.


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