Influential is a fitting way to describe E’Jay Ward’s role at Tyner for nearly a decade now.
The boisterous leader for the Rams received one of the greatest honors of his career so far when the 36-year-old Ward was recognized this week by the TSSAA as its A.F. Bridges male coach of the year in District 3 for the 2025-26 school year.
Hired in 2017 to take over the Tyner boys’ basketball team, Ward has built one of the area’s strongest programs in that sport. The Rams are 200-73 overall for a .733 winning percentage in his nine seasons, which include three trips to the state tournament.
Even as he prepares for his 10th season on the sideline with that program to tip off next week, Ward has made an impact in another sport with the Rams.
In his second season as head coach of Tyner’s boys’ track and field team, Ward led the Rams to their first team state title this past spring.