Ex-Heisman Trophy Winner New Men's Basketball Coach at Florida A&M
Aug 20, 2025
A highly decorated athlete at Florida State and a 12-year NBA veteran, Charlie Ward has been hired as the new Men's Basketball Head Coach at Florida A&M.
Ward was hired by the school in April of 2025. He said during his introductory press conference:
"Our team will be defined by our ‘PACE.' We will be Prepared. We will be Accountable. We will Compete in all things—and we will be committed. And we will give great Effort in all things—and we will have to execute."
Ward was one of the best college football players of the 1990s, playing quarterback at Florida State. He won the 1993 Heisman Trophy and in that same year, led the Seminoles to the National Championship.
Despite all his success on the football field, Ward instead chose to go pro as a basketball player as he also played hoops for Florida State. He was selected by the New York Knicks with the 26th pick in the 1994 NBA Draft.
The same skills that made Ward such a good quarterback and leader translated to the basketball court. He soon became the starting point guard for a Knicks team that consistently contended in the Eastern Conference, playing in the Finals with the team in 2000.
Now Ward will take his leadership ability to the NCAA after a successful stint coaching Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola. The fact that Ward is a legend in the state of Florida certainly won't hurt as he attempts to land recruits. The name Ward goes a long way in Florida.
