Lorenzo Ward Position: Defensive Coordinator Experience: 3rd Year

Lorenzo Ward is in his third season with the Gamecocks. Ward was named defensive coordinator at South Carolina on January 12, 2009. He will focus on the Gamecock cornerbacks this season after being responsible for both the cornerback and free safeties in each of the prior two campaigns.

Ward has helped lead a Gamecock defense that scored six defensive touchdowns during the 2010 season, a school record, with two scored by his secondary (Stephon Gilmore, D.J. Swearinger). Gilmore was cited as an All-SEC selection during his sophomore campaign.

In his first season at Carolina, Ward's unit helped the Gamecocks rank eighth in the nation in pass defense. In addition, the Gamecocks finished in the upper half in the SEC in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense. Individually, Gilmore earned first-team Freshman All-America accolades.

Ward came to South Carolina after spending one season as the secondary coach on Bobby Petrino's staff at Arkansas. Prior to that, he was on Art Shell's staff with the NFL's Oakland Raiders in 2006.

A former player at Alabama, Ward coached the secondary under Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech for seven seasons from 1999-2005, with five of his players earning All-Big East honors and one making the All-Atlantic Coast Conference squad. Virginia Tech led the nation in total defense, was third in pass defense and second in pass efficiency defense in 2005. The 2004 Hokie defense ranked fourth in the nation in both pass defense and interceptions. In 2002, the Hokies led the nation with 24 interceptions. The 2001 defense was No. 2 in the nation in total defense while the 2000 unit was No. 3 in interceptions. The 1999 defense was No. 3 in total defense and No. 7 in pass efficiency defense.

From 1994-99, Ward was an assistant at Tennessee-Chattanooga, including a two-year stint (1998-99) as defensive coordinator and defensive backfield coach. He coached the defensive backs from 1994-96 and the running backs in 1997. He also coached kickoff coverage and the punt team.

Ward played at Alabama from 1986-89, helping the Crimson Tide go 33-15 with an SEC title in 1989. The Sporting News named him Special Teams Player of the Year following his senior season as Alabama's unit was ranked No. 1 in the nation. Ward and Alabama played in the 1986 Sun Bowl, 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl, 1988 Sun Bowl and 1990 Sugar Bowl.

He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under the tutelage of Ellis Johnson at Alabama in 1991, working with the defensive backs, before going to Newnan (Ga.) High School as an assistant in 1992, where he also coached the track team. He returned to Alabama as a graduate assistant in the fall of 1993, working with the outside linebackers, before going to Chattanooga.

Ward earned his bachelor's in physical education from Alabama in 1991.

Ward, 44, is married to the former Tara Tubbs. The couple has one son, Lorenzo Donovan Ward Jr.