- Ellis Ward
Ellis Ward (
September 13 ,1846 -July 25 ,1922 ) was an Americanrower and coach best known for his time as the coach of theUniversity of Pennsylvania rowing team. Ward was a member of one of the most famous families in the history of the sport of rowing and is a member of the Rowing Hall of Fame.Early life
Ellis Ward was the son of Isaac and Winifred Ward. Ellis Ward grew up in a large family of rowing enthusiasts. Ellis Ward and his eight brothers rowed regularly in the
Hudson River 'sNewburgh Bay from the 1850s through the 1870s.cite web | url= http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/people/1800s/ward_ellis.html | title= Penn Biographies Ellis Ward (1846 - 1922) , (University of Pennsylvania archives)| accessdate=2007-02-19]Championship rower
At age 17, Ellis took up competitive racing soon he joined three of his brothers (Ellis, Henry, Josh and Gilbert) to race as a team; included in their many wins included the 1865 professional four-oared championship of America with a hard fought victory over the
Biglin Brothers . They also won a and a world title in 1871 atSaratoga when Ellis and his brothers defeated two English and three American fours man boats in an international four mile turn race. cite web | url=http://www.rowinghistory.net/Time%20Line/TL%201850-1899im.htm| title= time line at rowinghistory.net| accessdate=2007-02-19]Coaching career
Ellis Ward first position in college coaching was in 1873 at
Amherst College . This was one of many teams he coached during the 1870s and 1880s including a number of non-collegiate boat clubs, including theColumbia Boat Club inWashington, D.C. , theFairmount Boat Club ofPhiladelphia , and theBohemian Boat Club ofNew York . In 1879, Ellis Ward began coaching crew at Penn position he would hold off and on until 1912. In 1887 Ward resigned for the season because of controversy over the stroke he trained his athletes to use, but he returned the following season. Ward was replaced for the 1897 season by Samuel Powel, Jr. cite web | url= http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/sports/crew/1800s/histy_entry.html| title= Penn Crew in the 1800s – Introduction (University of Pennsylvania archives)| accessdate=2007-02-19]ubstitution controversy
Ward continued to coach Penn until 1892. Before the college championship of America, he felt the varsity was not giving their best efforts. Ward removed the entire varsity crew and the second string of eight rowers. Wards team of substitutes won the college championship of America, on
Saratoga Lake . This controversy may have had something to do with his departure from Penn at about that time. Another factor may have been the University was starting to take over the funding and oversight of Penn athletics. Whatever the reasonGeorge W. Woodruff became coach of bothfootball and crew.Return to Penn
From 1892 until 1895 Ward was also absent for a four year period when he trained rowers at the
Manhattan Athletic Club inNew York City . Woodruff did not have enough time to supervise both sports and Ward was hired by the University in 1896.Henley
The highlight of Ward's long tenure as coach was Penn's trip to 1901 at
Henley Regatta . Ward had to change its strategy since the Penn Crew had to row a far shorter distance than they were used to. Ward’s eight oared crew still won both of its trial heats at the regatta, but lost in the final to theLeander Club crew ofLondon ,England . That year, they were the only American eight man crew to mount a serious challenge to Britain's retention of theGrand Challenge Cup , the most prized trophy in amateur rowing. cite web | url= http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/sports/crew/histy_henley.html | title= History of Rowing at Penn: 1901 Henley Regatta (University of Pennsylvania archives)| accessdate=2007-02-19]After coaching
Ward left his position as rowing coach in 1912. He supported himself and his wife Martha by working with is son making
oars .Notes
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