FAMU Hires Former Knicks Guard And Florida State Quarterback Charlie Ward As Basketball Coach
Florida A&M University (FAMU) is set to make a significant addition to its athletics program by hiring Charlie Ward as the new head coach of its men’s basketball team. Ward, a former Heisman Trophy winner and NBA veteran, is finalizing a five-year contract with the university, pending approval from the Board of Trustees, ESPN reported.
Ward, 54, boasts a distinguished athletic background. He earned the Heisman Trophy in 1993 as the quarterback for Florida State University (FSU) and led the Seminoles to a national championship that same year, CT Post reported. Deciding to go pro, he was selected in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, where he played for over nine seasons. He concluded his NBA tenure with stints at the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets before retiring in 2005.
Transitioning into coaching, Ward was as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets from 2005 to 2007. He later took on high school coaching roles in Houston and Tallahassee, most recently leading the boys’ basketball program at Florida State University Schools.
Ward’s appointment comes as FAMU aims to revamp its men’s basketball program, which has not seen a winning season since 2006–07. The team finished the previous season with a 14–17 record under coach Patrick Crarey, who recently left to lead Grambling State.
The proposed contract outlines a starting salary of $175,000 for the 2025–26 season, with annual increases of $10,000, culminating in a total of $975,000 over five years. The agreement also includes specific buyout clauses, such as a $200,000 fee if Ward leaves for a Power Five school or professional league, $100,000 for a move to another SWAC institution, and $50,000 for other non-Power Four schools outside the SWAC, according to ClutchPoints.
