Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Hines Ward joining FAU’s coaching staff

Former Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Hines Ward is joining FAU’s coaching staff, a source confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Ward has been an offensive assistant coach with the New York Jets for the past two seasons after retiring from the NFL as a player in 2011.

The Owls have already filled all of their full-time assistant coaching positions, but The Owl’s Nest, which first reported the move, stated that Ward is expected to work closely with new FAU wide receivers coach Joey Thomas.

Ward won two Super Bowls and was named Super Bowl 40 MVP after helping Pittsburgh to a 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He also was a four-time Pro Bowl selection during his 14 seasons with the Steelers (1998-2011).

He holds franchise marks in three categories, amassing 1,000 catches for 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns in 217 games after Pittsburgh selected him in the third round of the 1998 draft out of Georgia (1994-97).

David Kelly, FAU’s coordinator of player personnel, was the running backs coach at Georgia from 1994-95 during Ward’s time with the Bulldogs.