Charlie Ward Poised to Become New Florida A&M Coach
Sources close to Alofoke Deportes confirm that Charlie Ward, Heisman Trophy winner and former NBA player, is about to become the men’s basketball coach at Florida A&M University (FAMU).
According to sources, Ward is finalizing the details to take over the position. The university’s board of directors has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, where the approval of the new coach’s contract is expected.
Ward, 54, was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1993 while playing at Florida State University. Subsequently, he developed an 11-year career in the NBA, from 1994 to 2005.
Ward played primarily for the New York Knicks, although he also had brief stints with the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets, where he began his career as an assistant coach.
Ward’s experience in basketball is extensive, including two seasons as an assistant coach for the Rockets (2005-06 and 2006-07), in addition to his time as a coach at a local high school in Tallahassee and with USA Basketball.
With this appointment, Ward becomes the most recognized coach in a men’s basketball program of an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the country. He joins Mo Williams, coach of Jackson State, as former NBA players who coach Division I teams at an HBCU.
Ward takes on a significant challenge, as FAMU hasn’t qualified for the NCAA tournament since 2007. In its history, the team has participated in three tournaments.
Last season, FAMU had a 14-17 record under coach Patrick Crarey, who left the team after one year. The team’s last winning season was in the 2006-07 NCAA tournament season. Since then, five coaches have unsuccessfully tried to lead the team to a winning record.
The arrival of Ward could boost the program, as he is a well-known figure in the Tallahassee area, both for his career as a player and for his experience as a coach.
