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From Olympic Moments to Lasting Impact:
Meet Coach Terri Ward
We are honored to feature Terri Ward as part of our Education Series, celebrating leaders who have shaped the landscape of women’s athletics. A lifelong educator and coach, she has dedicated her career to empowering young women through sports, championing opportunities, and serving as a leader with USA Basketball. Her journey reflects a passion for mentorship, perseverance, and opening doors for the next generation.
Tell us about your personal journey. (This encompasses both personal and professional aspects)
My journey begins as a child. My parents allowed us to figure out what we wanted to do and wanted to be. I never felt any pressure from them to do what they wanted me to do. Growing up I was in Girl Scouts and 4-H. In middle school was when I figured out that I was pretty good at sports.
I entered high school in the fall of 1972 just after Title IX. My dad and some other parents went to the school board and asked why our daughters couldn’t participate in high school sports but if we had boys they could. Girls high school sports came into existence in the Saint Vrain Valley school district because of our parents believed in us.
In high school I pretended to do gymnastics because my best friend was a gymnast, but my sports were basketball and track.
When I told my parents I wanted to become a teacher, my mom said to me you have wanted to do that since you were in second grade. I graduated from Niwot High School in 1976 and went to the University of Northern Colorado. There, I ran track for one year, ran cross country for one year, and played basketball for three years. I graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education.
My teaching journey began in a small town in New Mexico, Socorro. Two hours south of Albuquerque.
After two years, I returned to Colorado where my journey really began into the world of women’s athletics.
I was lucky in high school to have two amazing women that helped shape who I have become - Cheryl Pennington and Susan Schadle. They have followed my career from a scrawny little freshman in high school to what I have become today.
A sprained ankle is usually a bad thing, but for me, it turned in to something great. Because of this sprained ankle I was able to meet the incredible Ceal Barry and spend 8 years under her tutelage. Because of her, my world with USA Basketball began! While working for CeaI, one of my jobs was running her basketball camps and I got to meet Carol Callan. She was the girl's basketball coach at Fairview high school at the time. She would later become the Director of the women’s national team for USA Basketball. I was asked to be a volunteer for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. That was my first opportunity to work with USA Basketball. Not a bad place to start!
For the past 20 years or so I have spent a large part of my summer at our junior national team trials and training camps in Colorado Springs at the Olympic training center. I had the pleasure and honor of taking two groups of young women to Chile and Canada for 3 on 3 tournaments in 2023. Last summer I took our U17 team to their world championships in Irapuato and Leon, Mexico, where we won the gold medal!
In between and during all of this, I taught PE at Niwot Elementary and Niwot HS for 20+years and was the head girls basketball coach, volleyball and track coach at Niwot high school. I was also the President of Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports for over 30 years and I am currently on the Board of Directors and vice president of Sports Women of Colorado.
Never in my wildest dreams coming out of college would I have seen myself doing what I have done, meeting and knowing some of the most influential people in the world of women's basketball, and having the the impact on girls and women in sports in Colorado.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
Working with Ceal Barry, meeting Carol Callan, and joining the USA Basketball family—highlighted by the 1996 Olympics—were pivotal moments in my journey. Being inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame was the ultimate honor, celebrating not just my path, but all who helped shape it.
What are the most valuable lessons you've learned through your work?
Take advantage of every opportunity you are given and do it to the best of your ability. Work hard because you never know who is watching!
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
The need to "Pay it forward" and "Give back" mentality. I also believe that I need to continue to teach about Title IX. People don't realize that playing sports wasn't always a "given". Women before them have worked hard and sacrificed for what they have and we have to keep up the fight!
What are your highest hopes for democracy to unite and uplift and inspire?
I wish our democracy was as easy as tossing up a ball, playing a game and being part of a team. Our world has lost how to be a part of team and coexist with people who aren't like you but we are all striving for the same goal whatever it may be.
How can GlobalMindED support leaders like yourself in achieving your goals and advancing your aspirations?
GlobalMindED can help by opening doors and connecting leaders with the next generation. My goal has always been to create opportunities for young women in sports, and your work amplifies that by building networks, confidence, and pathways for them to succeed.
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