A Southwest FL Coaching Legend
Merv Ward was a coaching legend in Southwest Florida. He coached the Naples Lely Trojans for 11 full seasons and parts of two more from 1985-2002, winning 4 district titles. He arrived as an assistant from Michigan in 1984, and three years later, he'd taken a mediocre Lely program to the area's first state title game.
In 1987, he led a senior-laden Trojans team to the Class 3A championship game, earning the berth with upset wins over powerhouses Glades Central(26-20 in 2OT in the Muck)
Merv Ward was a coaching legend in Southwest Florida. He coached the Naples Lely Trojans for 11 full seasons and parts of two more from 1985-2002, winning 4 district titles. He arrived as an assistant from Michigan in 1984, and three years later, he'd taken a mediocre Lely program to the area's first state title game.
In 1987, he led a senior-laden Trojans team to the Class 3A championship game, earning the berth with upset wins over powerhouses Glades Central(26-20 in 2OT in the Muck)
