Photo: Will D’agostino
BY: KYLE MAIER, SPORTS EDITOR
“I could be anywhere in the basketball world today, and I choose to be at St. Bonaventure University,” said Adrian Wojnarowski today at his introductory press conference as Bonaventure’s men’s basketball general manager.
At a packed Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, Wojnarowski sat alongside director of athletics Bob Beretta and head coach Mark Schmidt to discuss his position.
“Around this time of year at ESPN, someone would invariably ask me: ‘Where do you want to be for the opening of NBA training camps?’” said Wojnarowski. “I’ve been thinking about that question for several months, ‘Where did I want to be?’ I finally had an answer. I want to be with the Bonnies on the opening day of practice.”
Wojnarowski asserted his new occupation ‘Isn’t a retirement job.’
“I am still driven,” said Wojnarowski. “I know what it takes to compete at a high level, and that’s why I am here, to compete and to win and to do it in the Bonaventure way. I’m committed to upholding coach Schmidt’s championship standards, cultures and values.”
Schmidt shared his excitement of having Wojnarowski on the program’s staff.
“Guys, we got Woj,” said Schmidt. “This is a grand slam. The relationships that Woj has; we couldn’t develop those in the next 50 years. I can’t put into words what he’s going to bring to the program.”
Wojnarowski said he will work alongside Schmidt in the recruiting process.
“When you follow the program as closely as I do, you know the values that Mark [Schmidt] has in players,” said Wojnarowski. “You know what a Bonaventure player looks like; acts like. A big part of this is just bringing him options. We’ve been going there since I got on campus yesterday.”
In his role as general manager, Wojnarowski will serve the coaching staff in managing a wide range of responsibilities including name, image and likeness opportunities and as a liaison with collectives; transfer portal management; recruit, family and alumni player relationships; professional player programs; and program fundraising, according to a university press release.
Wojnarowski elaborated on the role he will serve in NIL management.
“A big part of my responsibilities will be talking to potential donors, businesses and partnerships that will raise NIL money for us and help us become sustainable,” said Wojnarowski. “Trying to be creative with businesses so that we’re able to continue to provide all the things for the program from, private planes to away games, to a training table, to staff expenses — all those things are significant parts of running a college basketball program.”
Wojnarowski explained the potential Name, Image and Likeness opportunities his arrival brings the team.
“I’ve been absolutely blown away with the incoming opportunities coming our way from national sponsors and entities who want to be in the NIL business with St. Bonaventure basketball,” said Wojnarowski. “These are game-changing opportunities to help us recruit and retain our student-athletes.”
Wojnarowski said he looks to utilize his connections to recruit players from across the globe.
“What we want to do is leave no stone unturned,” said Wojnarowski. “We have the opportunity to get involved with lots of players from junior college, high school and overseas. You want to lean on the relationships you have to get good information on players who might want to come from overseas, or who are changing situations. We want to give the coaching staff every chance we can to evaluate these players.”
As a former journalist, Wojnarowski said he looks to use Bonaventure’s story as a selling point to potential recruits.
“This is an elite program,” said Wojnarowski. “We want to be telling that story, and we want young players to know that when you come to St. Bonaventure, you are a giant killer. There’s no one quite like us in a major conference, and that’s a huge advantage for us.”
Wojnarowski addressed his decision to leave a five-year, $35 million ESPN contract.
“I didn’t think about what I was losing in this entire process,” said Wojnarowski. “I thought about what I was gaining, and I thought about being back here and being able to serve coach Schmidt, Bob [Beretta] and our players and our university. I’m the winner of this deal. It was an easy decision for me, and so I’m proud to be back here. I’m honored that they created this opportunity for me to be here.”
Wojnarowski’s first game as general manager comes Oct. 30, when Bonaventure faces Alfred University in an exhibition match.
maierkj22@bonaventure.edu
