As Charlie Ward nears the completion of an agreement to become the next head coach of Florida A&M University, pending approval by the Board of Trustees, Jeff Van Gundy, former coach of the Houston Rockets, has shared his thoughts on Ward's anticipated appointment. Ward previously served as an assistant coach under Van Gundy with the Rockets following his retirement in 2004. According to comments reported by Pete Thamel, Van Gundy spoke highly of Ward's potential hire.

"I think this is a stroke of genius by FAMU. I think players and parents that choose to send their young man there, they are going to be absolutely thrilled. He’s going to coach basketball very well. He’s going to teach decision making and invest in who they become. His wife and kids are phenomenal. They have a hell of a family coming in to lead that program," Van Gundy stated.

Reports surfaced Wednesday morning indicating that Ward is finalizing a deal to take over as the next basketball coach, succeeding Patrick Crarey II. Initial reports of mutual interest between Ward and Florida A&M came from Scottay of Offscript TV on Tuesday. Liv Antinilla, also known as LivForHoops, reported Wednesday morning that Ward had been offered a five-year contract, which is slated to be presented to the Florida A&M Board of Trustees on Wednesday afternoon. ESPN's Pete Thamel has since confirmed that the deal is in its final stages.

Ward is recognized as a remarkable athlete, having excelled in both football and basketball. During his time with the Florida State Seminoles, Ward showcased his talent as a quarterback, amassing 5,747 passing yards and 49 touchdowns. He completed 473 of 759 passes, boasting a 62.3% completion rate. He also rushed for 889 yards and added 10 rushing touchdowns. Ward famously led Florida State to its first national championship, securing an 18-16 victory over Nebraska in the 1993 Orange Bowl.

In addition to his football achievements, Ward also demonstrated exceptional basketball skills. Playing alongside future NBA players such as Bob Sura and Sam Cassell, he contributed to the Seminoles' success, including Sweet Sixteen appearances in 1992 and a Southeast Regional Final appearance in 1993. Ward holds FSU records for career steals (236) and steals in a game (9), and ranks sixth in career assists (396). Despite his senior season being shortened due to his Heisman Trophy win, he averaged 10.5 points and 4.9 assists while starting 16 games as point guard.

Ward chose to pursue a professional basketball career and was drafted by the New York Knicks with the 26th pick in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft. One of Ward's early coaches in the NBA was Jeff Van Gundy, who served as an assistant coach for the Knicks from 1989 to 1996 before becoming the team's head coach in 1996. Ward played under Van Gundy until he departed the team in 2005. Beyond his time with the Houston Rockets after retirement, Ward has also gained coaching experience at the high school level in the Tallahassee area and with USA Basketball.