Charlie Ward is 13th Former NBA Regular to Coach at NCAA DI Level for HBCU
April 26th, 2025 - 20:07
New Florida A&M coach Charlie Ward played 11 seasons in the NBA with three different pro franchises. His teammates with the New York Knicks included luminaries Marcus Camby, Terry Cummings, Hubert Davis, Patrick Ewing, Derek Harper, Othella Harrington, Allan Houston, Mark Jackson, Larry Johnson, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley, Glen Rice, Doc Rivers, Latrell Sprewell, John Starks, Kurt Thomas, Clarence Weatherspoon, Buck Williams and Herb Williams. The talent level Ward will be exposed to in the SWAC is demonstrably different as only three HBCU products (all second-rounders) were picked in an NBA draft over the past 28 years.
Ward is far from the first former NBA regular to test his coaching acumen in the SWAC or MEAC. Ex-NBA players Butch Beard, Bob Hopkins and Mo Williams piloted multiple HBCUs at the NCAA Division I level. Williams and Reggie Theus probably are the best pros among the following alphabetical list of 13 individuals - six of them first-round draft choices including Ward - who played at least four seasons in the ABA or NBA before coaching NCAA DI HBCU teams:
| Former ABA/NBA Player | HBCU(s) Coached at NCAA DI Level | Summary of ABA/NBA Playing Career |
|---|---|---|
| Butch Beard | Howard University 91-94/Morgan State 02-06 | first-round draft pick (10th overall) from Louisville averaged 9.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.6 apg and 1.3 spg with Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle SuperSonics, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks in 1969-70 and from 1971-72 to 1978-79 |
| Juan Dixon | Coppin State 18-23 | first-round pick (17th overall) from Maryland averaged 8.4 ppg with Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons from 2202-03 through 2008-09 |
| Jerry Eaves | North Carolina A&T 04-12 | third-round pick (55th overall) from Louisville averaged 6.7 ppg and 2.5 apg with Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings from 1982-83 through 1984-85 and 1986-87 |
| Bob Hopkins | Southern LA 85 & 86/Grambling 87-89/UMES 91 & 92 | 10th-round pick (75th overall) from Grambling averaged 8.2 ppg and 5.6 rpg with Syracuse Nationals from 1956-57 through 1959-60 |
| Lindsey Hunter Jr. | Mississippi Valley State 20 & 21 | first-round pick (10th overall) from Jackson State averaged 8.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.2 spg with Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls from 1993-94 to 2009-10 |
| Aaron James | Grambling 90-95 | second-round pick (28th overall) from Grambling averaged 10.8 ppg and 4.1 rpg with New Orleans Jazz from 1974-75 through 1978-79 |
| Clemon Johnson Jr. | Florida A&M 12-14 | second-round pick (22nd overall) from Florida A&M averaged 5.4 ppg and 4.6 rpg with Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Seattle SuperSonics from 1978-79 through 1987-88 |
| Gene Littles | North Carolina A&T 78 & 79 | fifth-round pick (68th overall) from High Point averaged 9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3 apg and 1.2 spg with ABA's Carolina Cougars and Kentucky Colonels from 1969-70 through 1974-75 |
| Larry Smith | Alcorn State 09-11 | second-round pick (24th overall) from Alcorn State averaged 6.7 ppg and 9.2 rpg with Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs from 1980-81 through 1992-93 |
| Reggie Theus | Bethune-Cookman 22-25 | first-round pick (9th overall as undergraduate) from UNLV averaged 18.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.3 apg and 1.2 spg with Chicago Bulls, Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and New Jersey Nets from 1978-79 through 1990-91 |
| Charlie Ward Jr. | Florida A&M 26 | first-round pick (26th overall) from Florida State averaged 6.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4 apg and 1.2 spg with New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets from 1994-95 through 2004-05 |
| Mo Williams | Alabama State 21-22/Jackson State 23-25 | second-round pick (47th overall) from Alabama averaged 13.2 ppg, 2 rpg and 5 apg with Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets from 2003-04 through 2015-16 |
| Larry Wright | Grambling 00-08 | first-round pick (14th overall as undergraduate) from Grambling averaged 8.2 ppg and 3.4 apg with Washington Bullets and Detroit Pistons from 1976-77 to 1981-82 |
NOTE: Tommy Green, a second-round selection in 1978 NBA draft out of Southern (La.), played one season with the New Orleans Jazz before coaching his alma mater five seasons from 1996-97 through 2000-01.