By PATRICK WALSH
Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski is retiring from ESPN and returning to his alma mater, St. Bonaventure, as a general manager of the men’s basketball program, he announced on social media Wednesday.
Wojnarowski, a class of 1991 graduate of St. Bonaventure, had been employed at the network since 2017. In those years, Wojnarowski was named National Sports Media Association’s National Sportswriter of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Prior to ESPN, he was at Yahoo Sports for 10 years.
“I’m thrilled and humbled to return to St. Bonaventure with an opportunity to serve the university, Coach Mark Schmidt and our elite Atlantic 10 men’s basketball program,” Wojnarowski told St. Bonaventure. “In these changing times of college sports, I’m eager to join a championship program that combines high-level basketball, national television exposure, pro preparation and NIL opportunities with an intimate, supportive educational environment.”
As general manager, Wojnarowski will assist the coaching staff in responsibilities such as: name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities, transfer portal management, recruitment, family and alumni player relationships. He will also fundraise the program and develop professional player programs.
Bob Beretta, vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics, believes that Wojnarowski’s experience with professional athletes and franchises will boost the program.
“Woj is the perfect person to fill this new role, combining his intimate knowledge of St. Bonaventure and our Franciscan values with a deep network of relationships he has built across the worlds of professional and intercollegiate basketball,” Beretta told St. Bonaventure.”The fact that the preeminent journalist in his field is willing to walk away from a lucrative media career to serve his alma mater in a support role is a testament to his love and passion for Bona’s.”
After signing a five-year, $35 million deal with ESPN in 2022, Wojnarowski now is looking to chase his second dream, to give back to the university he graduated from 30 years ago.
“I’m grateful to President (Jeff) Gingerich, Bob Beretta, Coach Schmidt and the entire St. Bonaventure community for welcoming my wife, Amy, and me back into the campus community in a new role,” Wojnarowski said to St. Bonaventure.
St. Bonaventure will host a press conference on September 25 to welcome Wojnarowski back to the campus. The event will begin at 4 p.m. and will be held in the Quick Center for the Arts theater.
The Bonnies open up the season on November 4 when they host Cal State Northridge. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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