ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN’s Senior NBA Insider, is retiring from his renowned journalism career to return to his alma mater, St. Bonaventure, as the general manager of the men's basketball team.
“I’m excited and honored to come back to St. Bonaventure to work with Coach Mark Schmidt and our Atlantic 10 basketball program,” Wojnarowski said. “With college sports evolving so quickly, I’m eager to help a program that combines high-level competition, national exposure, pro-level preparation, and NIL opportunities in a supportive academic environment.”
In his new role, Wojnarowski will assist the coaching staff with various responsibilities, including overseeing name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities, navigating the transfer portal, building relationships with recruits and their families, supporting alumni and professional players, and contributing to fundraising efforts.
The position of general manager has become increasingly common in collegiate sports, especially within football and basketball, as schools adjust to the shifting landscape of college athletics.
Wojnarowski looks forward to leveraging his experience from the NBA to benefit the St. Bonaventure basketball community. “I’m eager to share some of the best practices from the top NBA franchises, opening doors for our players both on and off the court.”
Bob Beretta, vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics, described Wojnarowski’s decision as a major win for the university.
“This move demonstrates St. Bonaventure’s commitment to staying ahead in a time of tremendous change in college athletics,” Beretta said. “Woj’s deep ties to the university, combined with his vast network in the basketball world, make him the perfect fit for this role.”
Coach Schmidt echoed these sentiments, calling Wojnarowski’s addition a "home run" for the program.
“With the challenges of NIL, recruiting, and player retention, Woj’s connections in the basketball world will be a huge asset as we continue to push for success in the Atlantic 10,” said Schmidt, the school’s all-time winningest coach.
Despite signing a lucrative contract extension with ESPN in 2022, Wojnarowski has chosen to leave behind his media career to give back to St. Bonaventure, a place that has profoundly impacted his life. He and his wife, Amy (’92), have been longtime supporters of both the basketball program and the Jandoli School of Communication.
“I’m thankful to President Jeff Gingerich, Bob Beretta, Coach Schmidt, and the entire St. Bonaventure community for welcoming Amy and me back in this new role,” Wojnarowski said. “We met here as undergraduates, and our love for this university has only grown over time. I can’t wait to get started.”
Wojnarowski, a 1991 graduate, announced his retirement from ESPN on X (formerly Twitter) this morning.
“This profession changed my life, but I’ve decided to retire from ESPN and journalism,” Wojnarowski wrote. “I recognize the level of commitment this role requires, and I no longer feel driven to make that investment. Time is limited, and I want to spend it in ways that are more personally meaningful.”
Before joining ESPN in 2017, Wojnarowski spent nearly a decade at Yahoo Sports, including two years as editor of The Vertical. His journalistic career also includes nearly 10 years at The Record in New Jersey, where he was twice named APSE Columnist of the Year, along with earlier stints at the Fresno Bee and the Waterbury (Conn.) Republican-American.
Wojnarowski was named National Sports Media Association’s National Sportswriter of the Year in 2017, 2018, and 2019, joining the ranks of legendary writers like Red Smith, Jim Murray, and Frank Deford, who have won the award three consecutive times.
He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller *The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball’s Most Improbable Dynasty.*
Wojnarowski, who delivered St. Bonaventure’s 2022 Commencement address and received an honorary degree that year, was also named the Jandoli School’s 2019 Alumnus of the Year and has been inducted into its Wall of Distinguished Graduates.
A press conference to welcome Adrian and Amy Wojnarowski back to campus will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in the Quick Center for the Arts theater. The entire campus community is invited to attend.
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