It may come with less money and attention than ESPN, but Adrian Wojnarowski says his role with St. Bonaventure is still fueling his competitive drive.
Wojnarowski and St. Bonaventure head men’s basketball coach Mark Schmidt recently joined The Sideline with Andy Katz. During the episode, Katz asked Wojnarowski whether this new role as general manager of the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball program has enough competition to satisfy a competitive drive once fulfilled by an incessant desire to break NBA news.
“It’s not some competition, it is a massive level of competition,” Wojnarowski said of working with St. Bonaventure. “Everybody is really good out there. I mean there’s so many great programs, and great coaches, and great players in our league that you’re trying to compete against. So, that part of it, I didn’t lose.
“My competitive drive, which I do think fueled the career I had, from where it was to what it all became, I think that’s a characteristic that’s helpful for me in this and you’re around a highly competitive head coach and a highly competitive staff at Bonaventure where it’s not enough to just be competitive.”
When Wojnarowski announced plans to leave the news-breaking business and assume a role with his alma mater’s basketball program last year, there was an immediate thought that this might be a relaxing retirement gig for the 56-year-old. But moving six hours northwest of New York City to recruit college athletes and handle NIL responsibilities while continuing to build a basketball program for St. Bonaventure is far from everyone’s dream retirement gig.
With St. Bonaventure, Wojnarowski reportedly makes just one percent of the salary he previously earned as a senior NBA insider for ESPN. This isn’t a retirement job, it’s a passion project. One that seems capable of fulfilling Wojnarowski’s competitive drive, which at this point in his career, is worth more than money.