Charlie Ward

Charlie Ward

Keynote Speaker: Head Coach for the Florida A&M Men's Basketball Team; 1993 Heisman Trophy Winner & Former Professional Basketball Player

Charlie Ward Biography

Charlie Ward, Jr. is a husband, father, mentor, and sports coach known for his principles of integrity, hard work, and faith in God. In 2025, he was announced as the head men's basketball coach for Florida A&M University thus making him the only Heisman Trophy winner to become an NCAA Division I head basketball coach.

Ward's first major success came during his stint as a two-sport standout student athlete at Florida State University (FSU) playing on the football and basketball teams. Not only did he set 19 school and seven Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) records, but he also led the FSU Seminoles to their first-ever National Championship under legendary football coach Bobby Bowden in his senior year. This impressive performance gained him over 30 awards, including the 1993 Heisman Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top player in college football. Furthermore, Ward was named ACC Athlete of the Year in 1993 and 1994. He would later be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

On the basketball court, Ward was the spark plug on three FSU NCAA Tournament basketball teams. He led the Seminoles to the brink of the 1993 Final Four, falling one game shy. He also started on FSU’s Sweet 16 team in 1992 and hit the game-winning shot in its Metro Conference Tournament Championship game win over Louisville in 1991. Ward still holds Seminole basketball records for steals in a game (9) and career (236) and ranks sixth all-time in assists (396).

Following his graduation from FSU, Ward's career took a professional turn when the New York Knicks drafted him in the first round of the 1994 National Basketball Associatin (NBA) draft. He is the only Heisman Trophy winner to play in the NBA. He had a notable NBA career, playing primarily for the Knicks and also had stints with the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets before retiring in 2005. Ward played in the 1999 NBA Finals and participated in the 1998 NBA All-Star Three-Point Competition. Following the 2004-05 season with the Houston Rockets, Ward retired from the NBA due to injuries.

Post-retirement, Ward served as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets and was hired as the head coach for the varsity football team at Westbury Christian School in Houston, Texas, in November 2007. His coaching career further extended in 2018 when he became the head boys' basketball coach at Florida State University Schools in Tallahassee, a position he held until his current role at Florida A&M.

His acting debut came in 2020, when he appeared in the Netflix comedy series "Family Reunion." An advocate of youth development, Ward also founded The aWard Foundation to enhance the lives of young people through sports-based mentoring and educational programs. Recognizing his integrity on and off the basketball court, he was presented with the Coach Wooden "Keys to Life" Award in 2011.

Beyond sports, Ward is devoted to his family. He and his wife Tonja have been married for over 25 years, and they have three children, Caleb, Hope and Joshua. The couple also established a charitable foundation, the Charlie Ward and Tonja Ward Family Foundation, to support youth development programs and organizations, provide disaster relief support, and share Ward’s inspirational message of embracing the process that leads to success.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Charlie Ward and other top speakers and celebrities.

Charlie Ward Videos

Charlie Ward on his Heisman Win, FSU Football, Black NFL QBs + More
Charlie Ward on NFL draft, being drafted into NBA

How do I book Charlie Ward to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Charlie Ward for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Charlie Ward, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Charlie Ward or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Charlie Ward for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Charlie Ward, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Charlie Ward are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Charlie Ward, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Charlie Ward speak about?

Charlie Ward is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Christian, Athlete, Christian Athletes, Basketball, Faith & Religion, Sports, Football, Non-Profit, Youth, Sports Coaching, Motivational, Sports Motivation, Human Resources and Teamwork & Teambuilding.

Where does Charlie Ward travel from?

Charlie Ward generally travels from Tallahassee, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Charlie Ward?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Charlie Ward for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Charlie Ward for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Charlie Ward or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Charlie Ward is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Christian, Athlete and Christian Athletes. The estimated speaking fee range to book Charlie Ward for live events is $50,000 - $100,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Charlie Ward generally travels from Tallahassee, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Phil Ford, Josh Davis and Dave Dravecky. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Charlie Ward for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 28/05/2025.

Charlie Ward Videos

Charlie Ward on his Heisman Win, FSU Football, Black NFL QBs + More
Charlie Ward on NFL draft, being drafted into NBA
  • How do I book Charlie Ward to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Charlie Ward for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Charlie Ward, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Charlie Ward or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Charlie Ward for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Charlie Ward, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Charlie Ward are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Charlie Ward, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Charlie Ward speak about?

    Charlie Ward is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Christian, Athlete, Christian Athletes, Basketball, Faith & Religion, Sports, Football, Non-Profit, Youth, Sports Coaching, Motivational, Sports Motivation, Human Resources and Teamwork & Teambuilding.
  • Where does Charlie Ward travel from?

    Charlie Ward generally travels from Tallahassee, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Charlie Ward?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Charlie Ward for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Charlie Ward for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Charlie Ward or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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CHARLIE WARD

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