'ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski departs for GM role at St. Bonaventure'
Experienced NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski released his final "Woj bomb" on Wednesday morning, declaring that he has departed from ESPN.
The 55-year-old Wojnarowski has agreed to take on the role of general manager for the men's basketball program at St. Bonaventure, his alma mater. He graduated from the western New York school in 1991.
Prior to joining ESPN in 2017, Wojnarowski had worked at various newspapers, including The Record of Bergen County (New Jersey), as well as Yahoo Sports. He signed a contract extension with ESPN in 2022.
In a statement posted on social media, Wojnarowski wrote, "This profession has changed my life, but I have decided to retire from ESPN and the news industry. I understand the level of commitment required for my role, but it is no longer a priority for me. Time is limited, and I want to spend mine in more personally fulfilling ways."
According to St. Bonaventure's press release, Wojnarowski will be responsible for managing a variety of tasks, including "name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities, serving as a liaison with collectives, managing the transfer portal, maintaining relationships with recruits, families, and alumni players, overseeing professional player programs, and fundraising for the program."
Bonnies coach Mark Schmidt stated, "This move is crucial for navigating the new landscape of college basketball in terms of NIL, recruiting, and retention. Woj has an extensive network of connections in the basketball world, and his decades-long relationships will only benefit our program and help us remain one of the top teams in the Atlantic 10."
Bonnies athletic director Bob Beretta expressed confidence in Wojnarowski's ability to succeed in his new role.
"Woj is the ideal person for this position, combining his deep understanding of St. Bonaventure and our Franciscan values with a vast network of relationships he has built in both the professional and collegiate basketball worlds," Beretta said. "The fact that the most prominent journalist in his field is willing to leave a lucrative media career to serve his alma mater in a supporting role is a testament to his love and dedication for Bona's."
