Jane Ward (volleyball)

Jane Ward
Personal information
Full nameJane Lois Ward
BornApril 30, 1932 (1932-04-30) (age 92)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Medal record
Women's volleyball
Representing the  United States
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1967 Winnipeg Team
Silver medal – second place 1959 Chicago Team
Silver medal – second place 1963 São Paulo Team

Jane Lois Ward (born April 30, 1932)[1][2] is an American former volleyball player and coach. She played for the United States national team at the 1955 Pan American Games, the 1956 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship, the 1959 Pan American Games, the 1960 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship, the 1963 Pan American Games, the 1964 Summer Olympics, the 1967 Pan American Games, and the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Early life and education

Ward was born in Buffalo, New York.[1][2] She attended the University of Buffalo,[3] where she majored in physical education, played hockey, and was a star player on semi-pro softball and basketball teams.[4]

Playing career

In the early 1950s, Ward moved to Southern California, where beginning in 1954, she played as an outside hitter and setter in the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA), primarily for the Long Beach Ahern Shamrocks. She was a dominant player in the league until her retirement in 1968; her teams won 13 national championships, she was All-American each year, and she was USVBA MVP five times.[2][3]

Internationally, Ward played on the United States women's volleyball team at the World Championships in 1956 (the US's first appearance, winning silver) and 1960;[2][5] at the 1955 Pan American Games (winning silver),[2][6] the 1959 Pan American Games (winning silver), the 1963 Pan American Games (winning silver), and the 1967 Pan American Games (winning gold); and at the 1964 Summer Olympics (the inaugural year for the sport)[7] and the 1968 Summer Olympics.[1][2][5][8]

Coaching career

After retiring as a player in 1968, Ward coached women's volleyball for 20 years.[2] In 1968, she joined the coaching staff at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. She was head coach from 1969 to 1978; her team won the California state title in 1978.[3][5] From 1974 to 1979, she was also the first women's volleyball head coach at San Jose State University, where the team placed 7th nationally in 1978 and she was conference coach of the year in 1974.[9]

Honors

Publications

  • with Allen E. Scates. Volleyball. Allyn and Bacon series in basic concepts of physical activity. [1969]. 2nd ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1975. ISBN 9780205048175.

References

  1. ^ a b c Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jane Ward". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Class of 1988: Jane Ward". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Jane Ward, 2020". Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Jane Organ Ward". Dr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Gicewicz Family UB Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees. University at Buffalo Athletics. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "Jane Ward". Cabrillo Seahawks Hall of Fame (with video career summary). Cabrillo College Intercollegiate Athletics. December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "Women Volleyball Panamerican Games 1955 Mexico City". Todor. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  7. ^ Kauffman, Bill (July 22, 2016). "Different Generation Olympians Meet at Foundation Reception". USA Volleyball.
  8. ^ "Women's National Team Olympic History". USA Volleyball. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "San José State Volleyball 2023" (PDF). San Jose State University. December 1, 2023. p. 46.
  10. ^ "USA Volleyball All-Time Great Players Award". USA Volleyball. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  11. ^ "James E. Coleman USA National Team Award". USA Volleyball. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
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