Scott Ward is in his 22nd year with Penn Athletics and his first as Executive Associate AD/Chief Operations Officer in 2025-26. He spent the previous five years as the Senior Associate AD/Chief Operations Officer before receiving his promotion in 2023.
In his role, Ward leads Divisional operations, charting strategy, setting goals, establishing policies, building community and driving non-philanthropic revenue for the division. Ward oversees event management, ticketing, and business development, which manages special events, facility rentals, camps/clinics, and the racquet centers. He is the sport administrator for cross country and track & field programs and serves as the Executive Director of the Penn Relays. Ward is also the liaison to the Division's multimedia rights partner, JMI Sports.
Ward arrived at Penn in 2003 as the Coordinator for Athletic Facilities and Operations and has served in progressive roles during his time in University City. He was the Associate Director of Game Management from 2007-11, Director of Game Management from 2011-15, Assistant Athletic Director for Operations from 2015-17 and the Associate Athletic Director for Operations in 2017-18.
Ward served as the tournament manager for the NCAA Men's Basketball East Regional, which Penn hosted at the Wells Fargo Center in 2022, as well as the NCAA Wrestling Championships in 2025. He was also the Tournament Operations Director of the 2017 and 2018 Ivy League Basketball Tournament at the Palestra, and has played a key role in Penn's hosting of numerous NCAA Championships, Ivy League Championships, campus events, and external rental events.
He graduated from Widener University in 2000 with a bachelor's of science in business administration with a concentration in sport management, where he was a standout men's lacrosse player. He earned a master's in sport and athletic administration from West Chester University in 2004, where he served as the Assistant Women's Lacrosse Coach for three seasons and helped the Golden Rams win the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2002.
Ward and his wife, Gail, have two children: Liam and Lena.
