Charlie Ward Biography

Charlie Ward Jr., born on October 12, 1970, is an American basketball coach and former professional point guard who has served as head coach of the Florida A&M Rattlers. Ward has played in the National Basketball Association for 11 seasons, primarily with the New York Knicks during his professional career. He played college football as a quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1993 and leading his team to victory in the 1994 Orange Bowl. After being projected as a mid-round pick in the NFL, Ward opted for a basketball career and was selected by the Knicks in the first round of the 1994 NBA draft. Ward was traded to the San Antonio Spurs during the 2003–04 season and concluded his playing career with the Houston Rockets in 2005. Following his retirement as a player, Ward began a coaching career and has served as head coach of the Rattlers since 2025. Ward holds the fourth-largest margin of victory in Heisman Trophy balloting history, with a 1,622-point difference, trailing only Joe Burrow, O. J. Simpson, and Troy Smith.