Valpo Alumnus Earns NCAA Postgraduate Internship

Former Valparaiso University men’s golfer Matt Ward ’16 has been selected as one of 31 members of the 2017-18 NCAA postgraduate internship class.

The NCAA postgraduate internship program annually provides on-the-job learning experiences at the national office in Indianapolis to college graduates who are passionate in their pursuit of a career in college sports administration. Ward will spend the next 12 months at the NCAA national office working in Division II governance.

Ward was a four-year member of the Crusader men’s golf program, helping the team capture the Horizon League title and earn an NCAA Tournament berth in 2013. He also helped lead the way as Valpo was honored by the Golf Coaches Association of America as the Division I Academic National Champion for the 2015–2016 academic year.

Ward was an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) during his time at Valpo, serving as a team representative his first two years before working his way up to vice president and president during his junior and senior year, respectively. As Valpo’s SAAC president, Ward represented the Crusaders on the Horizon League SAAC and Valparaiso’s Council of Intercollegiate Athletics.

In 2015, Ward was selected to represent the Horizon League on the Division I national SAAC. In 2016, he was appointed to the Division I Legislative Committee as the representative for Division I student-athletes while serving his postgraduate year on the national SAAC.

Following his graduation with a bachelor’s degree in sports management in May of 2016, Ward spent the 2016–2017 academic year as an intern at The Summit League office, focusing on compliance and administration.