Longtime Kansas Athletics Administrator Dr. Scott Ward Passes

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas Athletics administrator and Jayhawks loyalist Dr. Scott "Scooter" Ward, a staple at the University of Kansas for more than 30 years, passed away Saturday afternoon, surrounded by family and friends at University of Kansas Health System. Ward was 59 years old.

Ward was a faculty member in the School of Education at the University of Kansas, before joining the Kansas Athletics staff in the summer of 2003. At the time of his passing, he was serving as the Director of Peak Performance and Leadership with the KU Athletics' Student-Athlete Development department. In his latest role at KU, Ward worked with KU LEADS and he assisted with mental performance aspects for all KU student-athletes.

Ward was in his 23^rd year with Kansas Athletics and he and his wife, Robin, were loyal Jayhawk fans and were frequent supporters at KU home events. Prior to his most recent position, Ward spent 14 years in the KU academic support department, working mainly with men's basketball and volleyball. In the summer of 2009, he was promoted to associate athletics director for academic and career counseling. Ward's office was always open, and he welcomed anyone who came to visit.

"The KU community lost a major part of its heart and soul today," Kansas Director of Athletics Travis Goff said. "Scooter was a deeply beloved member of our Kansas Athletics family and has touched countless lives in profound ways. While we grieve his loss, we are grateful for the many ways he has made us all better people. Our deepest love and prayers are with his wife, Robin, and his family and friends. We will celebrate his amazing life, and work every day to honor his legacy.

"And we know he will smile down upon us in the days ahead."

During Ward's time with men's basketball, Kansas had 35 Academic All-Big 12 selections, which is more than any other conference school. Included were first-team Academic All-Americans Cole Aldrich (2010) and Tyrel Reed (2011), while Aldrich was named the Academic All-American of the Year in 2010. Additionally, KU men's basketball was acknowledged in June 2015 with the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for achieving scores among the top 10 percent of all NCAA Division I men's basketball teams, a streak of nine-consecutive years honored.

"Today we lost one of Kansas' all-time great Jayhawks in Scott Ward," Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self said. "Scooter has been an integral part of this university for more than three decades and he was a major part of our basketball program since 2003. Scooter headed our academic program and ensured that every student-athlete that ever competed here was on the path to earning his degree. But he was much more than just an academic person to our players and to our staff. He was the role model that provided kindness, strength and joy. He provided so many different things to our players to become better men. He loved working with our basketball team, and he also loved working with the volleyball program too. He did a phenomenal job with Ray (Bechard) and his group as well."

"Scooter was such an inspiration to so many," Self continued. "How many people you know got to get up at 5 or 5:30 in the morning to be at work by 8:00? He did this every day and never complained. Scooter battled so many major health issues, not only being paralyzed in a wheelchair since college, but he also suffered two torn aortas and several other issues that were life threatening just in the time that he worked with us. He never complained and always was a pillar of strength to everyone that knew him. This will be a big blow to all of our players, because each and everyone of them loved him, and this will be a big blow to our community, because he touched so many people. I hope that everybody holds his family, primarily Robin, in their thoughts and prayers, because, together, they probably made about as good of a team as any husband and wife ever has. Scooter will be missed, but for the first time in a long time, hopefully he can rest easy."

Ward earned three degrees from KU: a B.S.Ed. in education with an emphasis in exercise science in 1991, an M.S.Ed. in education with an emphasis in athletic administration and sport psychology in 1993, and a Ph.D. in education with an emphasis in sport psychology and support in counseling psychology in 1996.

"Rarely in life do you encounter someone who has made the impact on people's lives like Scooter did," longtime Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard said. "His influence impacted generations of Jayhawks, both the student-athletes and coaches. I was honored to call him my friend."

University of Kansas Athletics

Longtime Kansas Athletics Administrator Dr. Scott Ward Passes

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