The Seminoles had suffered their only defeat of the season to a second-ranked Notre Dame team, but their path to the national championship was cleared a week later when the Irish were upset at home by Boston College.

He played a shortened season his senior year, joining the basketball team just 15 days after winning the Heisman Trophy.

Ward played sparingly in his rookie year under head coach Pat Riley, but the Knicks organization referred to him as "the point guard of the future."

During his NBA career, Ward established himself as a good three-point shooter, a reliable ball distributor, and a respected floor leader.

[6] In Game 5 of the 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Miami Heat, with the Knicks holding a 3–1 series lead, Ward tried to box out P. J.

After Miami won the game 96–81, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Larry Johnson, Allan Houston, and Ward were suspended by the NBA.

Ewing, Houston, Johnson, and Starks left the bench during the brawl, which was mandatory cause for suspension according to NBA rules.

[10] In June 2007, Ward was hired as an assistant coach for the varsity boys basketball team by Westbury Christian School in Houston, Texas.

In November 2007, he accepted the job as head coach for the varsity football team at Westbury Christian School, stating that his desire is to help prepare young minds for Christ.

[10] In February 2014, it was announced that Ward accepted the head coaching position at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola, Florida, where his son Caleb would be attending and playing football.

Charlie Ward made his acting debut, playing himself on the Netflix comedy series Family Reunion in the episode "Remember M'dear's Fifteen Minutes?"

In 2011, at the NCAA Final Four, Ward received the John Wooden Keys to Life award given by Athletes in Action Basketball for continued excellence and integrity on and off the court.

Ward established The aWard Foundation to enhance the lives of young people through sports based mentoring and educational programs.

Ward switched to a vegan diet and began a more consistent workout regimen to improve his health and prevent another stroke in the future.