By Andrew Marchand, Richard Deitsch, C.J. Moore and Alex Andrejev
Longtime NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski is leaving ESPN to become the general manager of the men’s basketball program at St. Bonaventure, he announced Wednesday. Wojnarowski graduated from the school in 1991.
By leaving his role, Wojnarowski is walking away from $20 million with ESPN, multiple people briefed on the move said. He makes around $7 million per year and has three years left on his deal.
Wojnarowski informed ESPN executives Jimmy Pitaro and Burke Magnus of his decision Wednesday morning, according to a source briefed on the matter.
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— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 18, 2024
“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 said. “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.”
His new role with St. Bonaventure includes name, image and likeness opportunities, serving as a liaison with collectives, working in transfer portal management and assisting with family and alumni player relationships, professional player programs and program fundraising.
Woj’s sports media impact
This is legitimate seismic news for NBA fans and Wojnarowski’s impact on how the sport is reported can’t be overstated. He was a central figure in the NBA’s major storylines for two-plus decades and it’s hard to remember any NBA story of significance that he did not have a stamp on.
Wojnarowski was part of a new era of newsbreakers that were paid millions given their deep relationships with agents and club management. That made him a massive powerbroker and also opened him to criticism for being too close to some sources. The reporter helped fuel the NBA’s massive social media blueprint with his transactional scoops to the point where his reporting literally became a catchphrase — Woj Bomb.
One of the ironies of his career is that he found national acclaim at Yahoo! Sports by beating ESPN at its own game — and then stunningly joined the Empire in 2017. Rare can a sports reporter move markets and change the economics for those who frequently break news but Wojnarowski did.
He helped make other reporters money by virtue of ESPN highlighting his power. ESPN management only learned of his decision this morning and his departure creates a massive opening given how important the NBA is to the company, especially with the new NBA deal that begins in 2025-26 and runs through the 2035-36 season. — Richard Deitsch, sports media senior writer
What is a college basketball GM?
The role of the GM in college basketball is still being defined. Not everyone is the same, and it largely depends on what the head coach is looking for. In some instances, it’s scouting talent. Sometimes it’s communicating with grassroots coaches and players. And some are tasked with trying to grow an NIL budget.
One college coach told me recently that fundraising would be a major part of the job if his school were eventually to add the position. More specifically, going out and bringing in new money. That’s likely the case here. Wojnarowski will likely be leaned on for his wide-ranging network as well. Dealing with agents has become part of the game, and his former job should be very beneficial there because he had to deal a ton with agents in the news-breaking game. — C.J. Moore, college basketball staff writer
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Michael J. LeBrecht II / NBAE via Getty Images)
