Marty Ward

Marty Ward has been a part of the Florida Southern men's lacrosse program for nearly its entire existence. The Moccasins have posted an overall record of 105-85, and have been ranked in the USILA Top 20 numerous times. During his time at Florida Southern, the program has produced 71 all-conference selections, 10 USILA All Americans, and 4 USILA Scholar All Americans.
Ward was named as the DSC Co-Coach of the Year in 2011 after leading the Mocs to the conference title game.

Ward's teams have also excelled in the classroom, with 35 players earning the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award for a total of 61 total selections, with 4 USILA Scholar All Americans Moccasins have also had more than 100 players named to the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Ward was a standout goalkeeper and two time All American at Division II powerhouse Limestone College, where he helped lead the Saints to a record of 55-9 in his four years.


A member of the Cherokee Nation, Ward has also had success as a goalkeeper for the Iroquois Nationals team, earning a bronze medal at the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships. He was also the starting goalkeeper for the Iroquois Nationals team that finished fourth in 2006. He made the roster in 2010 as the team qualified for the global event but did not participate.


He has also served as a coach for the Iroquois Nationals U-19 squad at the international level, leading the team to a bronze medal at the 2012 Federation of International Lacrosse World Championships.


Ward is currently the only Native American head coach in NCAA men's lacrosse, at any level. In 2018, Ward became the first lacrosse player inducted into the Corcoran (N.Y.) High School Athletics Hall of Fame.


Outside of the sport, Ward worked with the NativeVision program from 2013-16, a part of the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Heath. Sponsored by the National Football League (NFL), the program, one of the nation’s largest nutrition, obesity and diabetes prevention programs for American Indian children.


Ward lives in Lakeland, Florida with his wife Aricka, daughter Sawyer, and son Ryker.