He served as the head football coach at Grinnell College from 1922 to 1923, at John Carroll University from 1924 to 1926,[1] and at Purdue University from 1937 to 1941, compiling a career college football record of 32–42–8.

Elward was also the head basketball coach at John Carroll from 1924 to 1927, tallying a mark of 22–24.

Elward played football as an end at the University of Notre Dame from 1912 to 1915.

He served as an assistant football coach at Purdue from 1927 to 1936 and at Stanford University from 1946 to 1956.

Elward also served as the head coach of the 1942 Lakehurst Naval Air Station Blimps football team.