Chris Webber to teach graduate class at Wake Forest

Wake Forest has hired former NBA all-star Chris Webber to teach in its new Master of Arts in Sports Storytelling program, which begins in fall 2016. Webber will teach a course on sports, race and society for the two-year program, which is housed within the university’s documentary film program in the graduate school of arts and sciences.

Webber’s involvement stems from his connection with Peter Gilbert, a professor in the school’s documentary film program who also produced the 1994 critically acclaimed documentary, “Hoop Dreams.” In 2012, the two formed Webber Gilbert Media Group, a multimedia production company that produces feature films and documentaries focusing on the intersection of sports, culture and society.

“I’m excited to bring real-life experience to the program,” Webber said in a statement released by the school. “Sports are my passion and telling stories about sports is my new career.”

The program will be in downtown Winston-Salem’s Brookstown area. It plans to host events that focus on bringing the university and community together with speakers who will discuss issues of class, culture and race, according to the release. Webber will moderate many of these discussions.

Webber played for two years at Michigan before leaving school for the NBA. He and the rest of the “Fab Five” went to the Final Four in 1992 and 1993, though those appearances were later vacated due to Webber receiving $200,000 from Michigan booster Ed Martin while in school, among other violations. Michigan lost to Duke in the 1992 national championship game and North Carolina in the 1993 title bout. After college, Webber played 15 seasons in the NBA and currently works as an analyst and color commentator for Turner Sports.

The application deadline for the sports storytelling program is Jan. 15.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Chris Webber to teach graduate class at Wake Forest."