Charlie Ward, former Heisman Trophy winner and NBA veteran, is set to become Florida A&M’s new men’s basketball head coach.
Charlie Ward is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ward was an exceptional college football player as well, winning the Heisman Trophy, Davey O’Brien Award, and College Football National Championship as a quarterback during his time with Florida State University.
Charlie Ward Is Taking Up the Head Coach Job at Florida A&M
Charlie Ward is on the verge of becoming the next men’s basketball head coach at Florida A&M University, according to multiple sources. The deal is pending final board approval.
Sources: FAMU is finalizing a deal to hire Charlie Ward as the next men’s basketball coach. The deal is pending final board approval at 3 p.m. today. Ward is a former Heisman Trophy winner at Florida State and star basketball player at FSU and in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/VoMOnIIUJs
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 16, 2025
Ward played in the NBA with the New York Knicks for nine years and started in the 1999 NBA Finals. He later had stints with the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, before finally retiring in 2005. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Ward made history while playing as quarterback at Florida State University as he won the 1993 Heisman Trophy. The then declared for the NBA draft in 1994, becoming the first ever Heisman winner to play in the NBA.
Post-retirement, Ward coached basketball at different levels, acquiring a vast range of experience. He served as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets from 2005 to 2007.
In 2007, Ward was hired as an assistant coach for the varsity boys basketball team by Westbury Christian School in Houston, Texas. In November of the same year, he became the head coach of the same school. In February 2014, He accepted the head coaching position at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola, Florida.
KEEP READING: How Many Players Are on a College Basketball Roster?
Off the court or field, Ward received the John Wooden Keys to Life award given by Athletes in Action Basketball for continued excellence and integrity on and off the court. His appointment as Florida A&M’s head coach is a historic one as it represents a significant milestone for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!
