Legendary ESPN basketball pundit Adrian Wojnarowski announced his retirement in a stunning statement Wednesday morning.
Wojnarowski, affectionately known as Woj, has become one of the go-to journalists for regular and reliable basketball news.
He has been with ESPN since 2017, having previously worked for Yahoo Sports and The Record of Bergan County, New Jersey.
The 55-year-old also revealed that he has agreed to become the general manager of the men’s basketball program at St. Bonaventure, his alma mater.
The role includes naming, image and likeness assignment, recruiting and supporting Bonnies head coach Mark Schmidt.
Legendary ESPN basketball pundit Adrian Wojnarowski has announced his retirement
In a statement, he said: “I grew up the son of a factory worker two miles from ESPN’s campus and only dreamed of making a living as a sportswriter. Thirty-seven years ago, the Hartford Courant gave me my first story and I never stopped chasing the thrill of it.
‘This job has transformed my life, but I have decided to retire from ESPN and the news industry.
‘I understand the commitment my role requires and it’s an investment I no longer feel obligated to make. Time is not infinite and I want to use mine in ways that are more meaningful to me.
“I leave with overwhelming gratitude to my countless mentors and colleagues, my subjects and my stories, my readers and my viewers. No one has benefited more than I from the faith, trust and generosity of others.
‘The last seven years at ESPN have been a special privilege. I am grateful to the company’s leaders, especially Jimmy Pitaro and Cristina Daglas, for understanding and accepting my decision to make a life change.
“After all these years of reporting on everyone’s teams, I’m back on my own.”
Speaking about his new role at St. Bonaventure, Wojnarowski added, ‘It is a once-in-a-lifetime thrill to be able to return to a university and community I love in a role of service to our student-athletes, coaches and institution.
“I look forward to adding value in many areas to our basketball program and opening doors for the future of our young people both professionally and personally.”
ESPN President Pitaro added: ‘I have known and admired Woj since we first worked together at Yahoo! in 2007.
“His work ethic is unmatched. He is extraordinarily talented and courageous. He has led the industry at ESPN and his dedication to the craft and the fans is legendary.
“While we will miss his day-to-day performance, we completely understand his decision to make a lifestyle change and slow down a bit. We know he will continue to thrive in his next stage and he has our collective gratitude and support.”
We will continue to report more.