Jolie Ward is in her first year as Manhattan’s head volleyball coach. She came to Riverdale after serving five seasons as head coach at Eastern Connecticut State University, where she helped guide the Warriors to three Little East Conference championships and three NCAA tournament appearances. In total, Ward brings 10 years of collegiate head coaching experience to the Manhattan volleyball program.
“I am very excited to be taking over the Manhattan program,” Ward said. “It is a great opportunity to work with high quality players that will help propel Manhattan volleyball to the top of the conference. We have a great core of student-athletes here that this program can build upon. I believe our hard work and focus will lead this program to a MAAC championship.”
A native of Bellport, N.Y., she compiled a 104-84 (.553) record over her five years at Eastern Connecticut State and became just the second coach in program history to exceed the 100-win plateau.
Ward guided the Warriors to three consecutive Little East Conference tournament championships, earning automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament in 2005, 2006 and 2007. She also produced three consecutive regular season titles from 2004-06. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, she was named Little East Conference Coach of the Year after posting a 28-11 overall record and a 6-1 conference mark.
While at Eastern Connecticut State, Ward coached 12 all-league selections and 10 Little East Conference Players of the Week. Additionally, she mentored two conference Players of the Year, two Little East Tournament Most Outstanding Players, two NCAA All-New England Region recipients and an honorable mention All-American.
Off the court, Ward’s student-athletes have enjoyed benchmark success in the classroom. In 2005, her squad earned Eastern Connecticut State University Academic Team of the Year honors. She also mentored two ECSU Female Sports Person of the Year recipients (2004, 2006).
Prior to Eastern Connecticut State, Ward served as the head women’s volleyball coach at Farmingdale State University for five years and compiled an 86-61 (.585) overall record. Ward helped facilitate the program’s transition to the NCAA Division III status following her second season and went on to post a 51-37 (.580) record while competing at this level. In 2000, Ward guided the team to a 21-7 mark.
Ward, a four-year letterwinner, began her collegiate playing career at Stony Brook University, where she helped lead the Seawolves to back-to-back NCAA Division III tournament berths in 1993 and 1994. Stony Brook advanced to the Sweet 16 in 1993 and Elite Eight in 1994. In 1995, the squad earned the ECAC title after moving to the Division II level.
Ward exhausted her eligibility in 1997 as a graduate student at Dowling College. During that season, she served as team captain and led Dowling to a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. For her efforts, she earned a share of team MVP honors.
