[Charlie Ward](https://www.heisman.com/heisman-winners/charlie-ward/), the 1993 Heisman Trophy winner and the only Heisman winner to play in the NBA, makes his NCAA men’s basketball head coaching debut today for Florida A&M.
Ward, announced as head coach in April, will lead Florida A&M as it takes on South Florida in Tampa tonight in the season-opener.
He led the Rattlers against his alma mater, Florida State, in an exhibition on Oct. 26 in an evening that included the Seminoles retiring Ward’s No. 12 hoops jersey.
Ward will make his home head coaching debut when the Rattlers host Kennesaw State on Nov. 8 at the Lawson Center.
Ward will try to guide Florida A&M to its first winning season since the 2006-07 season — though the Rattlers finished 10-8 in conference last year — and its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2005-06.
Ward’s coaching career also includes a stint with the Houston Rockets shortly after his NBA career ended as well as high school football coaching jobs at Westbury Christian School and Booker T. Washington High.
Ward had a highly successful career as a hoopster at Florida State to complement his Heisman-winning football career.
On the hardcourt, Ward led the Seminoles to the brink of the 1993 Final Four, falling one game shy. He also started on FSU’s Sweet 16 team in 1992 and hit the game-winning shot in its Metro Conference Tournament Championship game win over Louisville in 1991. Ward long held Seminole basketball records for steals in a game (9) and career (236) and ranks sixth all-time in assists (396).
He played 11 seasons in the NBA, the first 10 with the New York Knicks, and helped the Knicks reach the NBA Finals in 1999.