Adrian Wojnarowski, widely known by his nickname “Woj,” announced on Tuesday via X that he is departing ESPN and stepping away from sports journalism to take on the role of general manager for the men’s basketball program at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure University.
Wojnarowski, 55, gained fame for his “Woj bombs,” delivering timely and well-sourced breaking news in the basketball world. He has been with ESPN since 2017 after a successful career at Yahoo Sports, which began in 2007, and prior to that, he worked at the Record of Bergen County in New Jersey.
Reportedly earning around $7 million annually at ESPN with three years remaining on his contract, Wojnarowski is leaving behind approximately $20 million. In contrast, the average salary for a general manager at a Division 1 university ranges from $130,020 to $172,958, according to Salaries.com.
No immediate replacement for Wojnarowski has been announced, but Shams Charania and Chris Haynes are the leading candidates. Charania, who began his career at Yahoo Sports under Wojnarowski, has contracts expiring soon, while Haynes has recently left TNT amidst the current litigation between Warner Bros. Discovery, its parent company, and the NBA.
Wojnarowski expressed his excitement about returning to St. Bonaventure, stating, “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.” He emphasized his eagerness to contribute during a time of change in college sports, focusing on high-level basketball, media exposure, and player development in an educational setting.
As a general manager, Wojnarowski will play a significant role in managing aspects related to name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities, fundraising, alumni relations, and the transfer portal.
A St. Bonaventure graduate from the class of 1991, Wojnarowski has stayed connected with both the basketball program and the Jandoli School of Communication. He and his wife, Amy, originally met while attending the university.
Bob Beretta, St. Bonaventure’s vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics, welcomed Wojnarowski, highlighting the bold decision to stay at the forefront of changes in collegiate athletics. St. Bonaventure has made three NCAA Tournament appearances since 2012 and finished last season with a 20-13 record.
Wojnarowski’s background includes significant achievements at Yahoo Sports, where he served as an NBA columnist and was instrumental in launching the standalone NBA site, the Vertical.
Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN’s chairman, praised Wojnarowski’s unmatched work ethic and talent, acknowledging his decision to transition to a new lifestyle while wishing him success in his future endeavors.
The NBA also recognized Wojnarowski’s contributions, expressing congratulations for his new role and playfully referencing his extensive network of sources within the league.