A Northwestern Football alumni and Chicago native, Rasheed Ward joined Northwestern Athletics as an Academic Advisor in February of 2022. He works closely with student-athletes from baseball, men’s basketball, football, men’s and women's soccer, men’s and women’s golf, fencing, lacrosse, and wrestling.
Prior to joining Northwestern, Ward spent two years at Eastern Illinois University where he served as the Director of Academic Services for football. His responsibilities included overseeing academic support for the entire football team. Prior to his time at EIU, he served for two years at Penn State University as a Learning Specialist working primarily with football student-athletes. Prior to Penn State, Ward held positions of Behavioral Specialist (2016-2017) at Moving Everest Charter School in Chicago, Graduate Assistant for Academics (2015-2016) at the University of Wyoming and served as the founding Disciplinarian and Head Football Coach (2013-15) at Butler College Prep in Chicago.
During his time as a student-athlete, Ward played in every collegiate game (49) with 20 career starts. Ward concluded his career with 126 receptions for 1,271 yards, ranking him 17th all-time at Northwestern, and becoming the 29th player in NU history to reach the 1,000-yard mark for career receiving yardage. As a true senior, Ward was the team's recipient of the 2008 Rashidi Wheeler Award (named in honor of the former Wildcat safety) and named the Alamo Bowl's 2008 Sportsmanship Award recipient after leading the team with seven receptions for a career-high 101 yards, including a season-long 46-yard TD pass to begin the second half vs. Missouri in the 2008 Alamo Bowl.
Ward completed his undergraduate studies at Northwestern with a degree in Education and Social Policy in 2009.
Prior to joining Northwestern, Ward spent two years at Eastern Illinois University where he served as the Director of Academic Services for football. His responsibilities included overseeing academic support for the entire football team. Prior to his time at EIU, he served for two years at Penn State University as a Learning Specialist working primarily with football student-athletes. Prior to Penn State, Ward held positions of Behavioral Specialist (2016-2017) at Moving Everest Charter School in Chicago, Graduate Assistant for Academics (2015-2016) at the University of Wyoming and served as the founding Disciplinarian and Head Football Coach (2013-15) at Butler College Prep in Chicago.
During his time as a student-athlete, Ward played in every collegiate game (49) with 20 career starts. Ward concluded his career with 126 receptions for 1,271 yards, ranking him 17th all-time at Northwestern, and becoming the 29th player in NU history to reach the 1,000-yard mark for career receiving yardage. As a true senior, Ward was the team's recipient of the 2008 Rashidi Wheeler Award (named in honor of the former Wildcat safety) and named the Alamo Bowl's 2008 Sportsmanship Award recipient after leading the team with seven receptions for a career-high 101 yards, including a season-long 46-yard TD pass to begin the second half vs. Missouri in the 2008 Alamo Bowl.
Ward completed his undergraduate studies at Northwestern with a degree in Education and Social Policy in 2009.