Report: Florida A&M 'finalizing' deal to hire Charlie Ward as next men's basketball coach

Florida State legend Charlie Ward has a new gig. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Florida A&M is finalizing a deal to hire the former two-sport Seminoles star as their next men’s basketball coach.

“Sources: FAMU is finalizing a deal to hire Charlie Ward as the next men’s basketball coach. The deal is pending final board approval at 3 p.m. today,” Thamel posted on X. “Ward is a former Heisman Trophy winner at Florida State and star basketball player at FSU and in the NBA.”

It’s a landmark deal for the Rattlers. Ward has never been a head coach at the college level. Over the past couple of years, he’s served as the head Boys’ Basketball coach for Florida State University Schools (FSUS or Florida High) in Tallahassee, Florida.

Still, he’s more the qualified for his chance. He’s a legend in Florida, especially when it comes to college sports. Ward won the Heisman Trophy, Davey O’Brien Award, and College Football National Championship as a quarterback for Florida State, before choosing to take his talents to the NBA.

He was drafted with the No. 26 overall pick in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the New York Knicks. His career in the league would span over a decade. One of the major highlights included helping the Knicks reach the 1999 NBA Finals, where they fell to the San Antonio Spurs. 

Additionally, he’s served as an assistant coach in the NBA, as well. Ward was with the Houston Rockets during the 2007 season. Now, it’ll be his duty to mold Florida A&M, and elevate the Rattlers program as a whole into a new era.

Time will tell if he can get the job done, but if one thing is for sure, you don’t bet against Charlie Ward. Many in the Florida area will be taking a keen interest in Florida A&M this season, as long as the Seminoles legend is in charge of the Rattlers.