Former Florida State dual-sport star and 1993 Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward is set to become the new men’s basketball coach at Florida A&M University. The announcement of Ward’s hiring was postponed due to a nationwide Zoom outage, with a five-year, $975,000 contract pending board approval. The proposed deal includes an annual raise of $10,000, running through June 2030.
Ward, 54, a former NBA player with an 11-year career, retired in 2005 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame the following year. With coaching experience at the high school level and as the previous boys’ basketball coach at Florida State University Schools, Ward takes over from Patrick Crarey, who left after one season. FAMU aims to improve on its 14-17 record from the past season, with Ward joining a growing trend of former professional athletes transitioning into college coaching roles.