The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB to Celebrate the Life of Torrey Ward
11/12/2015 12:00:00β―AM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB Department Athletics and the National Alumni Society jointly announced on Friday that they will hold a ceremony on Dec. 1 during halftime of the men's basketball game against Georgia State to honor and celebrate the life of former Blazer Torrey Ward.
Ward tragically passed away last April in a plane crash near the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, Ill. Ward, who was the associate head coach for the men's basketball program at Illinois State at the time of the accident, was traveling with a small group on the way back from the NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis, Ind.
"Our entire family is overwhelmed and incredibly grateful to the UAB National Alumni Society and the Department of Athletics for honoring Torrey in this way," said Janice Ward, Torrey's mother and former NAS president. "Our family continues to struggle with Torrey's passing, but at the same time, we are very proud of him and his accomplishments. He was a great son, father, mentor to young people and coach. Torrey loved playing basketball for the Blazers and as a proud alum, UAB was very important to him. He would be so pleased to help his alma mater and future Blazer student-athletes in this way. He would definitely think this was a `big time' event."
UAB will donate $5 from every single game ticket sold for the Dec. 1 contest to The Torrey Ward Legacy Scholarship Fund, which will help support the educational needs of future Blazer student-athletes.
A special jersey T-shirt, with an image of Ward's UAB home jersey, will be available exclusively at the UAB Book Store beginning November 20 (1218 6th Avenue South and at Bartow Arena merchandise stands during upcoming home games). Three dollars ($3), to coincide with the number Ward wore during his UAB career, will be donated to the scholarship fund from the sale of each shirt.
Blazer supporters wishing to make a direct contribution to the Torrey Ward Legacy Scholarship Fund can do so by visiting crowdfund.uab.edu. The site will be available to accept donations beginning December 1.
"Torrey Ward was a special person and a great Blazer," said UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram. "He was universally well-liked and respected by his teammates, peers, players and those in the coaching profession. We appreciate the opportunity to work with his mother, Janice, members of his family and NAS to remember and honor him at our December 1 game. He will be missed, but never forgotten."
"The National Alumni Society (NAS) is pleased to partner with UAB Athletics to memorialize Torrey in such a meaningful way," said Rebecca Watson, UAB Associate Vice President for Alumni. "Torrey was a great ambassador for UAB. He loved his alma mater just as his Mother does (Janice Ward served as a Past President of the NAS 2011-2012). The NAS felt strongly about honoring Torrey in establishing this scholarship and working with Athletics on this event to make it a reality and pass on his legacy to other student-athletes."
A native of Birmingham, Ward scored nearly 800 points during his UAB career (1996-2000). He was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year runner-up (to Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin), and earned C-USA Player of the Week honors three different times as a Blazer.
As a junior, during the 1998-99 season, Ward helped the Blazers to a 22-10 record, a divisional championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He graduated from UAB in 2001 with a degree in justice sciences.
"Torrey was a tremendous person and a rising star in our profession," UAB head coach Jerod Haase said. "His personality will be missed, but his impact on UAB and the basketball community will be felt for a long time to come. We are thrilled that we can devote money from this game towards his scholarship."
Ward joined Illinois State head coach Dan Muller's staff as an assistant coach in 2012 and was promoted to associate head coach in May of 2014. The Redbirds were 22-13 last season and earned a berth in the NIT.
Before his stint at Illinois State, Ward spent the 2011-12 season coaching in China after working five seasons at Ole Miss, helping guide the Rebels to four postseason berths and a pair of SEC West titles under head coach and former Blazer star Andy Kennedy. Ward also spent three seasons on the Jacksonville State coaching staff.
Ward is survived by his three children, Torrey, Tamia and Audrey.
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