TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —Charlie Ward, the legendary two-sport athlete and 1993 Heisman Trophy winner, has been named the new head basketball coach at Florida A&M University.
Ward is no stranger to the big stage in Tallahassee—he made history as the first Black starting quarterback at Florida State University, where he led the Seminoles to their first national football championship with a victory over Nebraska in the 1993 Orange Bowl.
Though widely recognized for his football accomplishments, including being awarded the Heisman Trophy, Ward was also a standout on the basketball court. He played four seasons with FSU’s basketball team, starting all 16 games in the 1993–1994 season. During that year, he averaged 10.5 points and 4.9 assists per game and still holds the school record for most steals in a single game with nine.
Despite his decorated football career, Ward wasn’t projected as a high NFL draft pick and instead pursued a career in professional basketball. He was selected 26th overall by the New York Knicks in the 1994 NBA Draft and went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA with the Knicks, Spurs, and Rockets.
Following his NBA career, Ward transitioned into coaching. Most recently, he led Florida State University School (FSUS) in Tallahassee for seven seasons, where he compiled a successful record. This past season, his team finished 21-6 and made it to the regional finals before falling to Andrew Jackson High School.
Now, Ward takes over a FAMU program that finished the most recent season with a .448 winning percentage and struggled on the road, going 4-13. In the 2023–2024 season, the Rattlers recorded a 6-23 overall record and went 4-14 in conference play. With a new head coach who brings both NBA experience and a Heisman pedigree, FAMU is hoping Ward can guide the program in a new direction.
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