Lorenzo Ward

Promoted to South Carolina’s defensive coordinator post in 2011 after his third season on staff, Ward simplified coverages and made it a point to get after quarterbacks while only rushing four. The Gamecocks’ pass defense has improved greatly during his tenure and forced turnovers has increased.

Ward played at Alabama from 1986-89 and became a grad assistant under the Crimson Tide’s Ellis Johnson thereafter before landing his first assistant job at UT-Chattanooga in 1994. Ward’s first big-time job was on Frank Beamer’s staff at Virginia Tech for seven seasons from 1999-05 as the Hokies’ secondary coach.