Gary Ward to Head OSU's Homerun Club

Gary Ward, who led the Cowboys to the College World Series 10 times during his tenure (1978-96), is returning to Stillwater to rebuild the baseball booster club and raise funds for improving Allie P. Reynolds Stadium and the baseball facilities.

STILLWATER, Okla. (OSU Athletics ) — Gary Ward, the architect of 16 straight Big Eight Conference championships spanning three decades, has agreed to head Oklahoma State University's Homerun Club as well as assist with fundraising efforts to improve Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

Athletics Director Harry Birdwell made the announcement Wednesday afternoon and said he was delighted to have the winner of 953 career games once again associated with Oklahoma State University.

"It's a great day to be able to announce that one of our legends is going to help us rebuild the booster organization and also help generate private dollars for improving our baseball facilities," Birdwell said.

Ward was Oklahoma State's head baseball coach from 1978 through 1996 and guided the Cowboys to an unprecedented 16 straight conference titles, 17 NCAA regional appearances and 10 trips to the College World Series. Seven of OSU's World Series appearances were in consecutive years, an NCAA record.

Current OSU head baseball coach Frank Anderson said he was pleased that the former Cowboy coach was willing to get involved. "Since I've been at OSU, Coach Ward and I have developed a great relationship. He has a great passion for this school and I'm delighted to have him closely realigned with the baseball program."

Ward said his new role would be a labor of love in a couple of ways.

"I have a tremendous obligation to Allie Reynolds and his family because of the momentum the construction of that stadium provided early in my tenure," Ward said.

"It will also be a labor of love for all the young men who wore the uniform in the 20 years I was here and I see a need to upgrade the present facilities to a standard similar to what we enjoyed in the early years of the existing stadium."