Arizona State names Tom Ward assistant gymnastics coach

Arizona State women's gymnastics head coach John Spini announces the addition of former Kent State assistant coach and NACGC/W National Assistant Coach of the Year Tom Ward to the Sun Devil staff.

"I am grateful to Coach Spini, Coach [Kari] Ward and the Arizona State administration for this wonderful opportunity to coach this storied ASU gymnastics program," said Ward. "I look forward to assisting the Arizona State team back to its rightful place in national prominence. I am so excited to meet the team, support staff and all the Sun Devil fans."

Ward comes to Arizona State from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, where he served for three seasons as an assistant coach for the Golden Flashes. Coming off the best season in school history, Kent State finished the season ranked 12th in the nation, it's highest-ever national finish. The Golden Flashes reached the national championships for the first time in school history in 2011 after placing second at the Ann Arbor Regional.

Ward, along with fellow assistant coach Sharon Sabin, was named the 2011 NACGC/W National Assistant Coach of the Year for his work with the Kent State Golden Flashes.

At Kent State, Ward worked primarily with gymnasts on vault, bars and floor.

Prior to returning to his alma mater to coach, Ward spent 17 years as a private club coach and owner in Ohio and Florida. An accomplished gymnast in his own right, Ward competed from 1988-91 for Kent State in the All-Around. Ward and his wife Tonya have a four-year-old daughter named Kendall.