Florida A&M is finalizing a deal to hire former Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward as its men’s basketball coach, ESPN reported Wednesday.

Ward, 54, played football and basketball at Florida State from 1990-94, winning a national championship and the Heisman as the Seminoles quarterback in 1993 before playing 11 seasons in the NBA from 1994-2005.

Ward has been coaching in the high school ranks since 2007, most recently with Florida State University Schools in Tallahassee since 2018.

Florida A&M, located in Tallahassee, finished 14-17 in 2024-25 in its first season under coach Patrick Crarey II, who left to take the coaching position at Grambling State. The Rattlers, members of the SWAC, have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2007.

A first-round pick by New York in 1994, Ward averaged 6.3 points and 4.0 assists in 630 career NBA games with the Knicks (1994-2004), San Antonio Spurs (2004) and the Houston Rockets (2004-05).

Ward swept most of the major college football honors in 1993, winning the Maxwell, Walter Camp, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, Davey O’Brien and James E. Sullivan awards in addition to the Heisman. Florida State retired his No. 17 football jersey.

On the basketball court, Ward played in 91 games for the Seminoles and averaged 8.1 points, 4.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game.

–Field Level Media