Closing Woj bomb: Adrian Wojnarowski retires from ESPN to take St. Bonaventure basketball GM job

LOS ANGELES — The one that broke a lot NBA information that his scoops earned a pithy nickname introduced on Bonaventure College.

Adrian Wojnarowski, recognized merely as Woj, littered the hoops panorama with “Woj bombs,” breaking information that he reported first, precisely and with context.

Wojnarowski, 55, was employed by ESPN in 2017 after rising as a must-read information hound and columnist at Yahoo Sports activities in 2007. He beforehand labored on the File of Bergen County, NJ

In accordance with the Athletic, Wojnarowski makes about $7 million a yr at ESPN and has three years left on his contract, that means he’s leaving about $20 million on the desk. The common wage for a common supervisor at a Division 1 college is between $130,020 and $172,958, in accordance with Salaries.com.

A successor to Wojnarowski has not been named, though Shams Charania and Chris Haynes are the obvious decisions.

Charania, 30, broke into the enterprise at Yahoo Sports activities below Wojnarowski, and his contracts with the Athletic, Stadium and FanDuel expire quickly. Haynes, 42, has left TNT, whose mum or dad firm Warner Bros. Discovery is in litigation with the NBA. ESPN stalwart Pat McAfee mentioned on the air Wednesday that Charania ought to be the front-runner.

Wojnarowski’s final Woj bomb was about himself.

“I am thrilled and humbled to return to St. Bonaventure with a chance to serve the college, Coach Mark Schmidt and our elite Atlantic 10 males’s basketball program,” Wojnarowski mentioned in a information launch from the college. “In these altering instances of faculty sports activities, I am keen to hitch a championship program that mixes high-level basketball, nationwide tv publicity, professional preparation and NIL alternatives with an intimate, supportive academic setting.”

The function of a common supervisor at college athletics packages has grow to be more and more necessary within the period of title, picture and likeness alternatives. Along with fundraising and helping with alumni relations, Wojnarowski will work with NIL collectives and assist handle the switch portal.

Wojnarowski is a St. Bonaventure alumnus (class of 1991) and has maintained a robust relationship with the basketball program and Jandoli Faculty of Communication. He and his spouse, Amy, met as St. Bonaventure undergraduates.

“I am hopeful to share with members of our neighborhood some finest practices realized from probably the most profitable franchises and minds within the NBA and dedicated to opening doorways globally for our gamers each on and off the court docket,” Wojnarowski mentioned.

Bob Beretta, St. Bonaventure vp and director of Intercollegiate Athletics, welcomed Wojnarowski with open arms.

“At a time of great turbulence throughout the intercollegiate athletics enterprise, we’re making a robust assertion that St. Bonaventure continues to be on the forefront of change,” Beretta mentioned in a press release. “This can be a daring transfer that aligns with our institutional targets to proceed to develop and flourish.”

St. Bonaventure has certified for the NCAA Match 3 times since 2012 and final season went 20-13.

Wojnarowski labored at Yahoo Sports activities from 2007 to 2015, starting as an NBA columnist till finally serving to launch Yahoo’s standalone NBA website, the Vertical, and serving as its editor.

“Woj is the proper individual to fill this new function, combining his intimate data of St. Bonaventure and our Franciscan values ​​with a deep community of relationships he has constructed throughout the worlds {of professional} and intercollegiate basketball,” Beretta mentioned. “The truth that the preeminent journalist in his subject is keen to stroll away from a profitable media profession to serve his alma mater in a help function is a testomony to his love and keenness for Bona’s.”

Jimmy Pitaro, chairman at ESPN, mentioned on He’s exceptionally gifted and fearless. He has led the trade at ESPN, and his dedication to the craft and to followers is famous.

“Whereas we are going to miss his every day output, we utterly perceive his resolution to make a way of life change and decelerate a bit. We all know he’ll proceed to thrive on this subsequent chapter, and he has our collective gratitude and help.”

The NBA issued a press release that ended with a playful nod to Wojnarowski’s multitude of sources throughout the league.

“The NBA household congratulates Woj on a well-earned subsequent chapter,” the NBA mentioned on X. “He is been an integral a part of our league for many years and we want him all one of the best in his new enterprise.

“Sources near the state of affairs say that his future is brilliant.”


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