Ellis Ward
Encyclopedia
Ellis Ward was an American
rower and coach best known for his time as the coach of the University of Pennsylvania
rowing team. Ward was a member of one of the most famous families, the Ward Brothers (rowers)
, in the history of the sport of rowing
and is a member of the Rowing Hall of Fame.
's Newburgh Bay
from the 1850s through the 1870s.
. They also won a and a world title in 1871 at Saratoga
when Ellis and his brothers defeated two English and three American fours man boats in an international four mile turn race.
. This was one of many teams he coached during the 1870s and 1880s including a number of non-collegiate boat clubs, including the Columbia Boat Club in Washington, D.C.
, the Fairmount Boat Club of Philadelphia, and the Bohemian Boat Club of New 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.
became coach of both football
and crew.
in New York City
. Woodruff did not have enough time to supervise both sports and Ward was hired by the University in 1896.
crew of London
, England
. That year, they were the only American eight man crew to mount a serious challenge to Britain's retention of the Grand Challenge Cup
, the most prized trophy in amateur rowing.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rower and coach best known for his time as the coach of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
rowing team. Ward was a member of one of the most famous families, the Ward Brothers (rowers)
Ward Brothers (rowers)
The Ward Brothers were four members of one family who rowed as a team and sometimes individually. They were declared World Champions after a four-oared race in 1871.-Ward family:...
, in the history of the sport of rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
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 RiverHudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
's Newburgh Bay
Newburgh Bay
Newburgh Bay is in the Hudson River approximately 60 miles north of New York City, just upriver from the Hudson Highlands. It takes its name from Newburgh, for many years the major port on this section of the river....
from the 1850s through the 1870s.
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 BrothersBiglin Brothers
The Biglin Brothers were brothers from New York active in professional rowing during the decade following the American Civil War, when rowing was one of America’s most popular spectator sports...
. They also won a and a world title in 1871 at Saratoga
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
when Ellis and his brothers defeated two English and three American fours man boats in an international four mile turn race.
Coaching career
Ellis Ward first position in college coaching was in 1873 at Amherst CollegeAmherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
. This was one of many teams he coached during the 1870s and 1880s including a number of non-collegiate boat clubs, including the Columbia Boat Club in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, the Fairmount Boat Club of Philadelphia, and the Bohemian Boat Club of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
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.
Substitution 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 reason George Washington WoodruffGeorge Washington Woodruff
Note: Before 1936, national champions were determined by historical research and retroactive ratings and polls. 1894 Poll Results = Penn: Parke H. Davis, Princeton: Houlgate, Yale: Billingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke H. Davis1895 Poll Results = Penn: Billingsley, Helms,...
became coach of both football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
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 ClubManhattan Athletic Club
The Manhattan Athletic Club was an athletic club in Manhattan, New York.The Manhattan Athletic Club was organized on November 7, 1877, and legally incorporated on April 1, 1878. Its emblem was a "cherry diamond"....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. 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 the Leander ClubLeander Club
Leander Club, founded in 1818, is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world. It is based in Remenham in the English county of Berkshire, adjoining Henley-on-Thames...
crew of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. That year, they were the only American eight man crew to mount a serious challenge to Britain's retention of the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
, the most prized trophy in amateur rowing.