Concordia Prep’s Josh Ward named BTC Coach of the Week
Saints are off to a 3-0 start and ranked for the first time
It’s an exciting time for the athletic program at Concordia Prep School, especially the Saints rapidly rising football team, which is off to a 3-0 start and has entered the VSN Football Top 20 for the first time in school history, at No. 14, after last week’s 13-0 shutout ranked over then No. 12 Dundalk. The Saints, who have moved up to the MIAA B Conference and are 1-0 in their new league, are starting to attract some rare attention and that includes the naming of head coach Josh Ward as this week’s Baltimore Touchdown Club Coach of the Week. “The excitement level is at an all-time high right now,” said Ward, who also serves as the school’s Director of Athletics. “We have great support from our students, staff and alumni. There is a lot of buzz for all our fall sports right now.” Ward explains that the growth of the football program is the result of a commitment by the school to invest in the success of its entire athletics program. “I believe that our school has made a commitment to build all our athletic programs as a whole and this has helped with the building of our football program,” said Ward, who played his high school football at Calvert Hall. “I am not looking too long-term because my main goal right now is to win the B Conference and as I have said we are the new guys and we need to still prove that we belong here.” As his team has moved up in class, Ward sites a familiar challenge for most schools with smaller enrollments who seek to play higher levels of football. “Depth. This is huge because the B Conference has a lot of talent and its a long season with a battle each week. We needed to grow our depth because as we all know injuries and other circumstances occur and you need to have the next man up ready to roll.” The Saints’ coach is very happy to see his players getting recognized. “I was telling talking to my family and coaches just recently about how crazy it is that we were the third worst ranked team in the state when I took over 3 years ago and now we are ranked in the Top 20 in VSN. This was a huge win for our program and our kids showed how resilient they are with the win on Friday. I couldn't be more proud of my guys and how they played. My coaches and players deserve this win and this ranking in the Top 20.” Ward also acknowledged that it is special to him to be named the BTC Coach of the Week. “I am so honored that my peers would recognize me with this award,” he said. “There are so many great coaches that have won this award before me so to be recognized with this award is something very special to me.” Like so many BTC honorees, Ward credits his staff for contributing to his success. The staff includes Adam Southwick (defensive coordinator), Tim Boothe (linebackers), Charles King (defensive backs), Luke Hickey (defensive line), Andre Smalls (safeties), Kevin Armstrong (wide receivers/special teams coordinator), Emmanuel Holder (running backs), Ron Howley (offensive line), Reno Regalbuto (assistant offensive line) and Stef Smith (quarterbacks), as well as the JV staff of Jashen Alston, Everette Dingle Sr and Kenneth Brown. “These guys mean everything to my success. Adam Southwick, Tim Boothe and Andre Smalls have been with me from the beginning and they have been through the ups and the downs of our young program. All of these guys work so hard day in and day out to help me have these players flying around playing great football. It is the best staff I have ever been a part of and I am blessed.” Ward also praised the work of the Baltimore Touchdown Club. “Doug DuVall and Scott Ripley do an unbelievable job of using the BTC to support the growth of high school football in Maryland. This is a great group of coaches from all schools that get to come together to help one another to continue to grow the game of football in Maryland.”