THE LEADERSHIP OF CHARLIE
Ward was a natural-born leader. While he was the quarterback on the football team, it was only right that he was also the starting point guard for basketball. Ward was a terrific floor general as he ran Florida State’s half-court offense. His patience, feel and awareness allowed him to connect with teammates either on kick outs or running the pick and roll.
Ward’s leadership for the basketball team was needed the moment he stepped on campus as a freshman. Florida State head coach Pat Kennedy needed to regroup after an underwhelming 16-15 record during the 1989-90 season. Ward became one of the pivotal pieces behind the Seminoles’ turnaround. The team emerged as one of the top programs in the Metro Conference and advanced to the second round before falling short to Indiana.
Over the years, Ward showed constant growth as an all-around basketball player. Not only did he continue to facilitate at a high level but showed his growth as a scorer. Combining both made him a matchup nightmare for defenders. Ward excelled at putting pressure on the opposing team. As he continued to be a focal point on that end, it took Florida State to another level.