Nick Ward

Cedar Hill head football coach Nick Ward knows how to build a strong culture. At the University of Miami in the 1990s, he spent time around his teammates, future NFL Hall of Famers Ed Reed and Edgerrin James.

Ward’s understanding of a successful culture extends far beyond the football field. A Class of 2000 Graduate of Miami, Ward will ensure that his players are College, Career, and Military Ready.

For those who wish to pursue their college football dreams, Ward will work tirelessly to ensure they have those opportunities. He can provide them with the academic and athletic framework to do so, having played and coached at the professional level.

The Seagoville native spent two seasons at Cedar Hill, including in 2020-2021, and was a cornerbacks coach on the Longhorns team that reached the UIL Class 6A, Division II State Championship Game.

Ward is just the third Cedar Hill head football coach in the past 20 years, following two former Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Coaches of the Year.

But Ward understands and embraces pressure and challenges. At Miami, Ward followed in the footsteps of several legendary defensive backs.

He signed with the Green Bay Packers, where he was a teammate of another, Future Hall of Famer Brett Favre, and then played in the Arena Football League (AFL) for nearly a decade.

Ward went on to coach in the AFL for six seasons, including three as a defensive coordinator.

He also interned with the Atlanta Falcons where he learned from the “Mikes” – Smith and Nolan – both of whom served as NFL head coaches.

Ward knew there was something special about high school football. After immediate success coaching in the Atlanta area, he knew the Lone Star State was the quintessential place for the sport, so he returned to the Metroplex.