ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski Shocks Fans, Retires to Join St. Bonaventure Basketball!

On Wednesday morning, Adrian Wojnarowski made an unexpected announcement about his decision to step away from his career in news breaking. He expressed his gratitude to ESPN and all those who supported him during his journey in a statement shared on his social media platforms.

“Having been raised by a factory worker just two miles from ESPN’s headquarters, my only ambition was to earn a living as a sports journalist,” Wojnarowski stated. “It was 37 years ago when the Hartford Courant published my first article, and the thrill of journalism has never left me since.

“This profession has been transformative for my life, yet I have chosen to retire from ESPN and the field of news reporting. The level of dedication required in my position is something I can no longer commit to. Time is a finite resource, and I wish to spend it pursuing more personal joys.

“I am deeply thankful for the myriad of mentors, colleagues, subjects, stories, readers, and viewers I’ve had the privilege of interacting with. No one could have asked for more support, trust, and generosity than I have received.

“The past seven years with ESPN have been especially rewarding. I am grateful to the leadership at the company, particularly to Jimmy Pitaro and Cristina Daglas, for their support and understanding regarding my life change.

“After years of covering other people’s teams, it’s time for me to focus on my own,” he added.

-30- pic.twitter.com/bFeFL61s1c

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 18, 2024

Shortly after his announcement, several of his ESPN colleagues revealed that Wojnarowski had accepted a position as general manager at the St. Bonaventure basketball program. The university confirmed this appointment in a statement.

NEWS | Wojnarowski, ’91, Retires From ESPN To Accept GM Role With #Bonnies Basketball Program

>> https://t.co/E1IkTF1QZE#Bonnies || #Unfurl pic.twitter.com/dzt8EoC0Jo

— St. Bonaventure Athletics (@GoBonnies) September 18, 2024

Wojnarowski shared his excitement about returning to his alma mater in a statement issued by the school.

“It’s both thrilling and humbling to return to St. Bonaventure, where I look forward to contributing to the university, working alongside Coach Mark Schmidt, and supporting our top-tier Atlantic 10 men’s basketball team,” Wojnarowski explained. “In an era of evolving college sports, I am eager to be part of a championship-seeking program that merges high-level basketball, national TV exposure, professional development, and NIL opportunities within a close-knit and nurturing academic setting.”

This news is truly remarkable. Wojnarowski has long been one of the premier NBA insiders, alongside Shams Charania, and his shift from journalism to management is a major surprise to many.

Wojnarowski began his journalism career while in high school, writing for the Hartford Courant, and after college in 1995, he moved to the Fresno Bee as a columnist. He joined The Record in New Jersey in 1997, and in 2007, he moved to Yahoo! Sports, where he became renowned as a top basketball newsbreaker for a decade. In 2017, he transitioned to ESPN, where he worked until his recent retirement announcement.

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