John Wall is taking on a college basketball front office job in addition to his gig as a studio analyst on Prime Video’s NBA coverage. The former NBA All-Star is the new president of basketball operations for Howard University men’s basketball team, according to an ESPN report on Thursday, April 30.
Wall, 35, is returning to Washington, D.C., where he starred with the Wizards over nine seasons after the franchise chose him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2010. The former Kentucky star previously served as a “captain of the day” for a Howard men’s basketball game this past season.
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Howard athletic department officials did not immediately respond to a USA TODAY Sports request seeking confirmation regarding Wall’s role and how the school identified him as a candidate for its newly-created front office position.
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Howard is coming off its third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years under coach Kenny Blakeney. The program won its first NCAA Tournament game over UMBC in March. Daniel Marks is currently listed as Howard’s General Manager and NIL strategist.
ESPN reported that Wall has already taken on an active role within the program working alongside Blakeney and Marks, with roster management, NIL deals, revenue sharing, agent negotiations and player mentorship among the areas in which Wall is involved.
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Wall officially retired from the NBA in August 2025, though his last games in the league were played during the 2022-23 season. He’s part of a growing trend of current or former NBA players to join college basketball programs in roles with titles that mimic the jobs typically found in the front office of a professional sports organization. The rise is in conjunction with the explosion of money available to college athletes through the transfer portal, NIL deals and revenue sharing in recent years.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry was named an assistant general manager for men’s and women’s basketball at Davidson. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum was named Duke’s Chief Basketball Officer in October 2025. Current Wizards star Trae Young is also an assistant general manager for Oklahoma men’s basketball as of last year.
Injured Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is the general manager for Weber State basketball and Terrance Mann of the Brooklyn Nets is an assistant general manager for Florida State basketball. Former NBA great Shaquille O’Neal is also the general manager for Sacramento State’s men’s basketball program.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Wall takes college basketball front office job at Howard
