The news was previously reported by to CBS Sports. The Chicago Tribune reported that the plane was due to land around midnight CT in Bloomington, Ill.
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Illinois State deputy director of athletics/external operations Aaron Leetch was also among those lost in the crash.
The school’s athletic director, Larry Lyons, released a statement on the loss of the two members of the ISU athletic department:
Scott Barrows, father-in-law of passenger Scott Bittner, told the Tribune the Cessna 414 was caught in fog over central Illinois. It ultimately went down near Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington.
“There was no contact,” Barrows told the Tribune. “It has been confirmed they are dead.”
Ward had coached at Illinois State since 2012 and was elevated to the title of assistant head coach in May of 2014. Before arriving at Illinois State, he coached as an assistant for five seasons at Ole Miss. Ward also played professionally in China after playing in college at UAB.
