FOOTBALL SUPPORT

DENNIS HART

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS & ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT

Dennis Hart joined St. John’s College High School as director athletics in March 2020, bringing extensive experience as an administrator, teacher, and coachs. Prior to St. John’s he devoted himself for 14 years to the students of his own alma mater, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, an all-boys Catholic preparatory high school in Philadelphia, PA. During his tenure he was the director of athletics—overseeing a robust and successful program that included 40 teams, nearly 100 coaches, and more than 700 student-athletes— spent four years as dean of students, and five years as a history teacher, and chair of the history department. Hart also coached both baseball and basketball, the same sports he played as a student there. Hart served as associate head coach for the varsity baseball team for 13 years, helping guide the team to four consecutive division titles, back-to-back Philadelphia Catholic League championships, and a 2009 appearance in the state semifinal game. Hart also coached the school’s basketball program for three years, including time with both the varsity and freshman teams. Prior to joining the faculty at St. Joseph’s Prep, Hart was a social studies and science teacher at People for People Charter School in Philadelphia, where he coached the boys’ varsity basketball team, leading them to two Independent Charter School League finals. Hart began his coaching career at St. Matthew School in Philadelphia, where he served as assistant coach for the girls’ varsity high school Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) team. Hart earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Temple University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Joseph’s University. Hart has also served on a number of professional committees, including the St. Joseph’s Prep Strategic Plan 2020–Academic Excellence Committee (co-chair), St. Joseph’s Prep Middle States Committee (chair), St. Joseph’s Prep Board of Trustees Athletics and Student Life Committee, the Philadelphia Catholic League (vice chair), and the Philadelphia Catholic League Board of Directors. He also served as the league’s chairman for baseball and boys’ and girls’ track and field. Hart and his wife Kate live in Washington, DC, with their two daughters Olivia and Claire.

PAT WARD ’93

ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Pat Ward ’93 enters his ninth year as assistant athletic director for St. John’s College High School. During his professional career at St. John’s, he has overseen the day-to-day operations of the Athletic Department and the school’s athletic facilities with a focus on boys’ sports. In addition to his role in the Athletic Department, Ward has been the offensive line coach at St. John’s since 2000 with great success, and at least one lineman named first team All-Conference each year. Ward has coached 24 first team All-Conference linemen and 11 first or second team All-Met linemen (as determined by The Washington Post), as well as six All-Americans and three NFL players. Most recently, Ward was an assistant coach for the 2013 Under Armour AllAmerican Game. As a student–athlete at St. John’s, Ward was a two-time football All-Met and All-American recipient. At the University of Maryland, he was a four-year starter, an AllConference ACC player, and the recipient of the prestigious A.V. Williams Award, given to the UMD football player who demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship. He was inducted into the St. John’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. Ward comes from a long line of St. John’s graduates, including his grandfather, Robert Cady ’37; uncle, Mike Cady ’69; cousins, Frank Cady ’42 and Ralph Hawkins ’53; and brother Mike Ward ’06. He is very proud of his history at St. John’s and excited to be part of the St. John’s community.