FAMU’s latest coaching search has officially ended, and they have penciled in Florida State legend and Thomasville, Georgia native Charlie Ward as the university’s next men’s basketball coach.
Ward is no stranger to the bright lights. He is a former NBA player and Heisman-winning quarterback for neighboring Florida State University.
This hire comes on the heels of former head coach Patrick Crarey II leaving FAMU for the coaching vacancy at Grambling State University.
Ward is set to ink a five-year contract, from 2025-2030, with these salary details if approved.
- 2025-2026: $175,000
- 2026-2027: $185,000
- 2027-2028: $195,000
- 2028-2029: $205,000
- 2029-2030: $215,000
Ward was a dual-sport athlete at Florida State University, where he was FSU’s first Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and a national champion. He was also the starting point guard for the basketball team, where he led the Seminoles to the Elite Eight, and was later drafted in the first round of the 1994 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. Ward played 11 seasons in the NBA for the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.
Ward began his coaching career as an assistant coach in Houston at Westbury Christian School, where he became the head football coach. In 2014, he accepted the position as the head basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola. He stayed there for four years until he received a coaching job at Florida State University High School, where he accumulated a 147–49 record, a 2022 3A FHSAA state championship, and has sent multiple players on to play at the collegiate level.
“I couldn’t be happier for Coach Ward and FAMU Athletics. FAMU is gaining a leader who brings stability, strong character, and a visionary mindset to guide their basketball program forward,” Florida High Athletics Director Anthony Robinson told the Tallahassee Democrat.
Time is not on Ward’s side, as the basketball transfer portal is closing soon, and he will lose much production from last year’s team. SWAC Newcomer of the Year Milton Matthews said there is a possibility for his return with news of Ward’s hire.
“I’m open to all options; I’m just looking for the best situation,” Matthews told The Famuan.
Ward inherits a program that has not won a conference tournament or clinched an NCAA Tournament berth since 2007. The Rattlers finished seventh in the SWAC last season and made history with their first SWAC Tournament win.
Last week’s FAMU Board of Trustees meeting was postponed due to nationwide Zoom outages. Ward and FAMU await the rescheduled meeting date to make his hire official.