Coquese Washington 2021-22 Staff

1993 Notre Dame alumnae Coquese Washington returned home on May 27, 2020 when Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey announced her as associate head coach on her staff. She spent two seasons back with the Irish in South Bend before accepting the head coaching position at Rutgers on May 23, 2022.

Washington donned the Irish uniform from 1989-93 and helped the program reach its first NCAA Tournament in 1992. Washington was later an assistant coach under Muffet McGraw from 1999-07 and tutored Ivey on the way to the program’s first national title in 2001.

“I am thrilled to announce that Coquese Washington has accepted the position of Associate Head Coach,” Coach Ivey stated. “It’s an absolute blessing to welcome Coquese back home to Notre Dame. Her experience as a former player and alum, WNBA champion and former head coach, plus her national championship coaching pedigree, provides me with incredible knowledge and wisdom. I am so excited to have her join my staff as we build this new era of Notre Dame women’s basketball.”

Coach Washington worked extensively with two of Notre Dame’s main starters from the 2021-22 season, who helped put the Irish name back on the national scene with a Sweet 16 appearance. First, there was Dara Mabrey, who knocked down 73 three-pointers on the year. In fact, Mabrey was a woman possessed in the second round of the NCAA Tournament – tying the program record with seven three-pointers in a 29-point performance. Then, there’s 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year Maddy Westbeld, who averaged 15.0 points and 7.3 rebounds during the NCAA Tournament, while knocking down 60.6 percent of her shots – 4th best shooting percentage in the Big Dance.

Washington arrived to South Bend after a one-year stint as an associate head coach with the Oklahoma Sooners. Prior, she made a name for herself as the head coach at Penn State from 2007-19, amassing a 209-169 record and guiding the Lady Lions to four NCAA Tournament appearances and three Big Ten titles. Washington was the first female African-American head coach in Penn State history.

“Notre Dame has always held a special place in my heart,” Washington stated. “So much of who I am can be traced back to my time at Notre Dame both as a student and as a young professional. Being a part of our women’s basketball staff again is truly energizing. I would only leave a program like Oklahoma for one reason – to return home.”

From 2012-14, the Lady Lions claimed three-straight Big Ten regular-season titles (outright wins for the first two), making them one of four programs in conference history to win three or more regular-season crowns in a row.

She also guided Penn State to Sweet 16 appearances in 2012 and 2014. Furthermore, Washington guided 17 players to All-Big Ten status on 32 separate occasions.

Washington earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors three times (2012-14), while also being named a two-time WBCA Region Six Coach of the Year (2012, 2013) and two-time finalist for WBCA National Coach of the Year (2012, 2013). She was also selected as the 2011 and 2014 Black Coaches Association (BCA) Female Coach of the Year.

Washington also flashed her prowess on the recruiting trail, signing four Top-25 recruiting classes including six McDonald’s All-Americans. Prior to Washington’s arrival, Penn State had only signed one McDonald’s All-American.

“It’s exciting to imagine the levels of success our program will experience under Coach Ivey’s leadership,” Washington added. “Working with dedicated folks like Carol Owens, Michaela Mabrey and the rest of the staff, our program will continue to have a dynamic impact on our University, our student-athletes and our community in a variety of ways.”

In her original stint on the sidelines at Notre Dame, Washington helped the Fighting Irish to four Sweet 16 appearances in eight seasons, including the famous 2001 national title. Washington was instrumental in helping the Irish secure eight consecutive Top-25 recruiting classes, a feat only accomplished by two other programs in the country at the time (Connecticut and Tennessee). Additionally, Washington coached five different Irish All-Americans, including Ivey and Megan Duffy (current Marquette Head Coach), and worked closely with Alicia Ratay (Notre Dame record holder).

During her time in an Irish uniform, Washington rewrote the Irish record books. She dished out 554 career assists (ranks seventh all-time), while recording 307 career steals (ranks third). In fact, her 2.7 steals-per-game career average still holds the top spot.

Off the court, the newly-minted Irish coach was just as impressive, as Washington earned her degree in just three years. Later, she earned her Juris Doctorate from Notre Dame in 1997, earning ‘Double-Domer’ status.

Washington played six seasons in the WNBA and is one of five Irish to have won a WNBA title, achieving the feat with the Houston Comets in 2000. Washington was also a key figure in helping create the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA), serving as the founding president of the WNBPA from 1999 until 2001. She served as the executive vice president of the WNBPA from 2001 until her retirement in 2003.

In addition, Washington led negotiations for the association’s first collective bargaining agreement as the association’s president. As the executive vice president, she was a mainstay in the negotiations for the league’s second collective bargaining agreement, which brought about the first free agency system in women’s professional sports.

Washington’s service to the game has gone beyond just coaching. She served on the WBCA Board of Directors and led a committee tasked to grow the game of women’s basketball. She won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2013 World University Games and served on the USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Committee from 2009-12. She was a member of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund Board of Directors from 2012-15 and also served five years on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Issues Committee.