Longtime Oak Harbor High School football coach Dave Ward made an unexpected announcement Sunday at the Wildcats’ 2007 wrap-up banquet. He decided to retire after guiding Oak Harbor the past 17 seasons.
Ward, who this past June retired from teaching at the school, used a creative way to break the news to his players.
“I told them, ‘I’ve got an announcement to make that’s difficult for me to do, and I’m not sure how to say it, but I’ve decided to graduate with the seniors this year,’” Ward said earlier today.
Ward, 53, helped turn Oak Harbor into one of the state’s best programs. After guiding the Wildcats to the Class 4A state championship in 2006, this past season the squad started 11-0 and advanced to the state quarterfinals, losing to eventual runner-up Bothell.
Ward’s teams won more than 100 games, earned at least a share of five division titles and qualified for the playoffs his final six seasons.
Asked why he decided to leave, Ward said he accomplished his goals and is satisfied the program is in good shape for the future. However, he said he might eventually get back into coaching.
The clear pinnacle for Ward was last season, when Oak Harbor capped a 13-1 season by beating Bothell 21-14 in the state-championship game. It was the Wildcats’ first team state title in school history.
The frontrunner to replace Ward appears to be Jay Turner, Oak Harbor’s defensive coordinator. Turner is a Marysville-Pilchuck High graduate who played football for the University of Montana.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
