Troy G. Ward

Assistant Coach/Assistant General Manager

Biography:

Troy G. Ward came to Houston for the first time in his coaching career for the 2007-08 season. Ward had his hands in much more than just coaching and was named Assistant General Manager after his first season.

Alongside Head Coach Kevin Constantine and fellow Assistant Coach Luke Strand, Ward helped achieve the Aeros best single-season improvement in franchise history.

Ward served as an assistant coach for the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins for three seasons, from 1997-2000, also for Kevin Constantine. Ward helped Constantine and the Penguins upset top-seeded New Jersey in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 1999. Ward's other assistant coaching stops include two seasons at Indianapolis of the now-defunct International Hockey League, three seasons at the University of Wisconsin and three at the University of Denver.

Ward was named the ECHL's Coach of the Year for the 2000-01 season, when he led Trenton to the Kelly Cup Finals with a 50-18-4 record. The next season, Ward served as the ECHL's Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations

He also joined ECHL Victoria in mid-season in 2005-06, leading the Salmon Kings to a 12-14-8 record. Ward became the head coach of Dubuque of the United States Hockey League in 1993. He also served as the Fighting Saints' general manager.

Ward first became a head coach with his Alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, from 1987-1990. Ward played four seasons of collegiate hockey at UWEC, including winning the NAIA national championship in 1984, and then was assistant coach there for two seasons prior to becoming the head coach.