TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) - A Thomas County Central graduate is moving just about as close as you can to home with out moving back to Thomasville.
Charlie Ward, the Heisman trophy winning quarterback who won a National title at Florida State, was announced as the new boys basketball coach at Florida High today. He spent the last four seasons as head football coach at Booker T. Washington in Pensacola, and cited moving closer to home a reason in taking the job at Florida High.
"High school basketball is like the grass roots for college and giving kids exposure and opportunities to learn how to grow," he said. "I played and coached in the NBA for 13 years, and nine years in the high school basketball and football. To be able to continue to coach young men is something I'm excited about."
Ward played over a decade in the NBA, and while he's never been a head basketball coach before, he said he's excited for the challenge.
"Just like when I started coaching football after 13 years of basketball, I had to figure it out," he said. "It took me some time, but once I called everyone and started formulating a plan, it started to come around."
Ward will finish out the school year in Pensacola before relocating to Tallahassee.
