Charlie Ward new Florida A&M basketball coach (not pictured): Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Kit Leong
According to sources who spoke to ESPN, Charlie Ward, a former Heisman Trophy winner and first-round NBA draft pick, will take over as Florida A&M’s men’s basketball coach.
According to sources, Ward is completing an agreement to become the coach of the Rattlers. The approval of a new men’s basketball coach’s contract is on the agenda for the school’s board meeting, which is set for Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.
The 54-year-old Ward played in the NBA from 1994 to 2005 and won the Heisman Trophy at Florida State in 1993. Although he spent the majority of his playing career with the New York Knicks, he also played for the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.
Ward has a broad background in basketball coaching. In addition to coaching USA basketball and a high school in Tallahassee, he served as an assistant coach with the Rockets for two seasons in 2005–06 and 2006–07.
As a former NBA player coaching in Division I at an HBCU, he joins Jackson State coach Mo Williams as the most well-known coach at an HBCU men’s program in the nation.
Given that Florida A&M has only made three appearances in tournament history and hasn’t advanced to the NCAA tournament since 2007, Ward takes over a difficult position.
Last season, FAMU finished 14–17 under coach Patrick Crarey, who departed after just one season. The school’s most recent winning season occurred during the 2006–07 NCAA tournament season. Since then, five coaches have been employed there, but none of them have been able to produce a winning record.
Because of his playing and coaching history, Charlie Ward is one of the most well-known figures in the area at the Tallahassee-based school, which will be a boost to the team.
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
