Charlie Ward, one of the most accomplished athletes in college sports history, will see his basketball jersey lifted into the rafters.
The jersey retirement will take place prior to Florida A&M’s exhibition matchup against Florida State — a nod to Tallahassee’s two hoops programs coming together for a historic night.
The honor makes Ward the first Seminole in school history to have his number retired in both football and basketball. His No. 17 football jersey was retired years earlier in recognition of his Heisman Trophy–winning season in 1993.
“I enjoyed every moment of my college experience,” Ward said. “I’m grateful for the honor of having both of my jerseys retired. It’s truly a blessing from my Heavenly Father to be acknowledged in this way and see the work I put in as a student-athlete was recognized by others. Grateful for all of my family, coaches, administrators, professors, and teammates for assisting in my success.”
Ward was hired as Florida A&M coach in April.
Ward’s basketball career at Florida State was nearly as impressive as his national championship football run. From 1990 to 1994, the multi-sport standout guided the Seminoles through a significant transition — helping FSU capture the 1991 Metro Conference title and seamlessly move into the Atlantic Coast Conference the following year.
In the program’s first-ever ACC game, Ward engineered an 86–74 upset of No. 5 North Carolina at the Dean E. Smith Center on December 15, 1991. His leadership also propelled the Seminoles to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 1992 and an Elite Eight finish in 1993 — only the second in program history.
Over his 91-game college basketball career, Ward averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a program-record 2.6 steals per game, establishing himself as one of FSU’s most complete guards of the era.
Ward’s football achievements further cemented his legacy. As a quarterback in 1993, he completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 3,032 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. That season, he captured the Heisman Trophy, the Davey O’Brien Award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, while being named the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Toyota Leader of the Year.
Following his FSU career, Ward was selected in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks — becoming the only Heisman Trophy winner ever drafted into the NBA. He went on to play 12 seasons in the league with the Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets.
