Biography:

Dustin Ward enters his third season as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator after previously serving as the running backs coach during the 2004 season.

Under his direction, the 2008 Tigers finished the season ranked 16th in NCAA Division III in both passing yards per game and passing efficiency rating, 42nd in scoring offense and 47th in total offense. In 2007, DePauw ranked 36th in total offense.

Ward came from St. Joseph’s (Ind.) College where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the 2006 season. He also worked as a recruiting assistant at Indiana University in 2005.

A 2003 University of Illinois graduate, Ward earned a bachelor of science degree in leisure studies/sports management.

The Champaign, Ill., native played 22 games at quarterback and started nine during his Illini career. He completed just over 54 percent of his career passes for nearly 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns.

In his first season as quarterback in 2000, he earned a start in the Illini’s season finale against Northwestern and completed 20 of 37 passes for 246 yards which were all career highs.