The Houston Rockets hired former guard Charlie Ward on Friday to become an assistant coach. The 6-foot-2 Ward averaged 6.3 points, four assists and 1.23 steals in 11 NBA seasons.

Drafted by New York in the first round of the 1994 draft, Ward spent his first 9 1/2 NBA seasons with the Knicks. Ward ranks third on the Knicks' all-time three-point list (598) and fifth in steals (744).

Ward spent half a season with the San Antonio Spurs in 2004 before signing with the Rockets as a free agent in August 2004. He played in 14 games and averaged 5.4 points and 3.1 assists with the Rockets before having season-ending surgery on his right knee in December 2004.

Ward, a former quarterback at Florida State, won the Heisman Trophy in 1993.