Photo by: Aiden Droge/Kansas Athletics
KU LEADS Wing Renamed Honoring Dr. Scott “Scooter” Ward
3/31/2026 2:30:00 PM | General, Student-Athlete Support Services
LAWRENCE, Kan. – On the second floor of the Wagnon Student Athlete Center, just west of Allen Fieldhouse, the KU LEADS entrance has been renamed the Scooter Ward Leadership Center to honor the late Dr. Scott "Scooter" Ward. The unveiling of the new entrance was celebrated with Kansas Athletics staff in a ceremony Tuesday morning.
A staple at the University of Kansas for more than 30 years, Ward passed away Jan. 3, 2026. He was 59 years old. At Ward's celebration of life on Feb. 12, KU Director of Athletics Travis Goff made the announcement of the change.
"I think it's so important to have a tangible way that we can just get that little bump from Scooter," Goff said at Ward's celebration of life. "There's no better way to do that than in a physical space. I'm so proud and excited to be able to share that as you take that turn off the spiral staircase at Wagnon, that corridor where Scooter spent so many days, will be renamed the Scooter Ward Leadership Center for Kansas Athletics."
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 23rd 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.
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.
A staple at the University of Kansas for more than 30 years, Ward passed away Jan. 3, 2026. He was 59 years old. At Ward's celebration of life on Feb. 12, KU Director of Athletics Travis Goff made the announcement of the change.
"I think it's so important to have a tangible way that we can just get that little bump from Scooter," Goff said at Ward's celebration of life. "There's no better way to do that than in a physical space. I'm so proud and excited to be able to share that as you take that turn off the spiral staircase at Wagnon, that corridor where Scooter spent so many days, will be renamed the Scooter Ward Leadership Center for Kansas Athletics."
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 23rd 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.
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.
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