Joseph Nathan Ward (born January 21, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player.

As an 11-year-old in the mid-1970s, Ward first played basketball games in the Griffin (Ga.) Spalding County Parks and Recreation Department's youth program.

He averaged a combined 11.2 points in his college playing career, shot 53.7% from the field, and was known to have great jumping ability.

After a nine-year playing career in 1994, Ward arrived in the Knoxville area and started coaching with the Rule Christian Academy (RCA) recreation program.

[4] In 2014, Ward was recruited to join the UP Fighting Maroons men's basketball coaching staff of Rey Madrid.