Hines Ward adds associate head coach to Arizona State football roles
- Head Coach Kenny Dillingham praised Ward's consistency and leadership qualities.
Hines Ward admits he is enjoying his coaching position at Arizona State even more than he thought he would. And he's done such a good job, head coach Kenny Dillingham has added to Ward's position as wide receivers coach.
Ward, 49, has been elevated to associate head coach. Dillingham wants the former Pittsburgh Steelers' great to have more interaction with other players on the team, not just those in the receiving corps.
"Look at the wideouts and their progression," said Dillingham, when he met with the media on the eve of fall camp starting on July 30. "What better person for our leaders to go to, when you're trying to build consistency, than a guy who was the model of consistency in an organization that built consistency. And he was one of the pillars as a player.
"A player can come to me all they want, and ask me leadership advice, but I'll never know the answers Hines knows because he was in their shoes as a player leader. I've never been a player leader. I've only been a coach leader, which are different roles."
Ward was a star receiver for the Steelers from 1998 to 2011, winning two Super Bowl rings (2006, '09). He was MVP of Super Bowl XL in 2006, a 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Ward joined Dillingham's staff midway through the 2024 spring practice after the previous position coach, Ra'Shaad Samples, took a job at Oregon.
The hire paid dividends right away as Jordyn Tyson had a breakout season in his first year working with Ward. Tyson has been pegged as the first wide receiver off the board in the way-too-early 2026 NFL draft projections.
After drills wrapped up on the first day of camp, Ward spent a few minutes talking with Tyson individually. That came after Tyson had a spectacular practice, highlighted by a spin move on the sideline in which he caught the ball with one hand.
Ward, known for his attention to detail, said he was talking to Tyson about ball security because he was carrying it a little too loosely.
Ward said he enjoyed his first season working with Dillingham so much that he and his wife bought a house in the Phoenix area.
"I love everything about ASU. I love Tempe," Ward said. "I love these kids. I just love being part of an organization and really just trying to help Kenny build what he wants to build here and sharing his visions and goals and what he wants ASU to be. But I'm thrilled about the title and I want to do my part."
Ward said thinks the title is Dillingham's way of encouraging him to expand his reach to the rest of the team. But Ward says he didn't want to overstep his position.
"Kenny talked about doing it, he just felt like, to be an asset to the team. I'm always around the receivers and I really don't want to step on anyone's toes when it comes to talking to another position, so I've always shied away a little bit but Kenny wants me to do more of it,'' Ward said.
"He doesn't want me to be shy. He doesn't want me to worry about that. It's not just talking about football, it's about life and how they approach and do the job. So I'm very honored."
Ward his first year involved learning what the college game involves.
"Coming into it I really didn't have any expectations," he said. "I didn't really know. I came in here, really didn't know the staff, didn't know the players, but over the journey and with the season we had last year, it was a remarkable ride. That was last year, so now I have a room full of new guys that are unproven, and I am working with them. I like the direction we're headed."
And yes, Dillingham is encouraging his players to reach out to the former NFL star, who most football enthusiasts think should be in the Hall of Fame.
"Giving him that title was me saying, `Guys, I don't care if you're a DB, I don't care if you're a D lineman. I don't care if you're a linebacker or O lineman, if you have a question about how to lead. If you have a question about how to create standards, how to be successful and continue that on a personal level, you have a guy here who can help you," Dillingham said.
"Sometimes people get scared if he's not their position coach, so I wanted to make sure people knew that you need to go to him and utilize him for not just coaching the wide receivers but for your own personal growth,'' he said. "We have an unbelievable resource here, an unbelievable person and coach that's done what a lot of you want to do. Utilize him."