Jaida Ward considered Pacific her home long before she took the helm as the Tigers’ head coach in beach volleyball. She grew up nearby to Stockton in Tracey, Calif., found her passion for the sport there and spent summers at Pacific’s overnight volleyball camps. Although she doesn’t call Pacific her alma mater, she was elated to return to her home base as head coach for the Tigers last season.

“It’s honestly hard to put into words how full circle this journey has felt,” Ward said. “To come back at 22 years old, not as a camper, not as a club kid, but as the head coach of the beach volleyball program has been incredibly humbling.”

Her return to Stockton means much more than just the next move in her career. It’s about giving back to the community that shaped her, and attempting to start a legacy that’s especially meaningful during Black History Month. In a sport where Black representation remains limited, Ward’s presence on the beach volleyball courts is both a statement and an invitation that the sand belongs to everyone.

Ward’s passion for beach volleyball started at an early age. As an eighth grader training at Pacific’s facilities, she fell in love with the sport’s unique rhythm and demands.

“Beach volleyball fascinated me because it was so raw,” she said. “Just two athletes, no hiding, no substitutions. It forces leadership, communication and accountability.”

Those same qualities that initially captivated her and drew her to the sport now define her coaching style. After a standout playing career at San Jose State, she returned to Stockton determined to build a program that reflects those same values.

Her first year at Pacific, however, came with unexpected challenges. A year ago at this time, she didn’t have an assistant coach. As a result, every practice plan, lineup decision, academic check-in and recruiting call ran through her.
 
Despite the long to-do list that came every day, she still laid a foundation rooted in culture, accountability and belief, the same values she credits for the Tigers’ momentum heading into the 2026 season, which started last week. Now with a full support staff on board this season, she’s able to be more intentional and present specific to her coaching and mentoring process. She can focus more on elevating the program beyond simply keeping everything together.

The other aspect of Ward’s ascent in becoming Pacific’s head coach coincides with another important responsibility: serving as a leader and a voice in a sport that hasn’t seen many Black student-athletes or coaches participate.

“Being a Black head coach in a sport that doesn’t traditionally feature Black student-athletes is both an honor and a responsibility,” she said. “Visibility matters. Representation matters.”

She remembers what it felt like to hit the sand and see few faces that resembled hers. That kind of experience could either make someone shy away or try to change the trend. Ward chose the latter.

Now, she’s intentional about building an environment where everyone feels like they belong. That authenticity, she believes, is part of what connects her so deeply to her student-athletes and to Stockton itself.

“I understand this city. I understand what it means to grind here and to dream from here. That relatability builds trust.”

While beach volleyball is growing nationwide among the NCAA, Ward acknowledges that access still remains a barrier for many young athletes — especially Black athletes who might not see themselves represented on the sand.

“Access is the key word,” she said. “Beach volleyball often requires club exposure, travel and resources. Increasing community clinics, youth outreach and affordable camp opportunities can make a huge difference.”

At Pacific, she’s working to make the sport feel more welcoming, especially for kids in Stockton and the surrounding communities.

Growth is vital across the board in beach volleyball, especially within the West Coast Conference with programs like LMU making a run to the national championship match last year.
“Iron sharpens iron,” Ward said. “Competing in a conference where a program has just played for a national title forces all of us to level up.”

The theme of Ward’s second season at Pacific is elevation. Now equipped with a full support staff, she’s focused on aspects of the game like situational training, late-match composure and creating high-pressure moments in practice so her student-athletes can trust their training when it matters most. Culturally, the pillars remain unchanged: Community, Commitment, Trust, and Compete.

Ward credits her time as a student-athlete for preparing her to lead with both empathy and high standards. She was a decorated student-athlete at San Jose State, finishing her collegiate career as the program’s career and single-season wins leader, playing primarily on the top court for four seasons.

“Competing at the Division I level in California teaches you quickly that nothing is given,” she said. “That experience gave me a deep understanding of what our student-athletes are managing on a daily basis.”

For Ward, Black History Month is both a celebration and a call to action — a reminder to honor legacy while building forward.

“Sometimes being the first, or one of few, means making sure you’re not the last,” she said. “We’re not just preparing for a season, we’re building something sustainable, something meaningful for the young girls in Stockton and beyond who are watching.

“What we’re building at Pacific is bigger than one milestone, and heading into 2026, we’re just getting started.”