Willie Washington
Athletic Director

In 1988, Willie Washington arrived on the campus of Benedict College as the Head Men's Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director.  Washington had spent the previous twelve years as the Head Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director across the street at Allen University. After building a successful basketball program at Allen University it was time to turn his attention to revamping the Benedict College Program. 

Under his leadership, the Tigers were the scourge of the EIAC, winning six Commissioner's Cups, the hallmark of excellence for the school with the best athletic programs.  Benedict won six out of seven during their stay in the EIAC since the inauguration of the award.

Washington was named the 1999 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Southeast Region Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. During his tenure as basketball coach, the Benedict College team never had a losing season. He reached the 200 win-plateau during the 1997-98 season and guided the Tigers to the NAIA national tournament four times during the nineties. He was named the winner of eight EIAC Coach of the Year awards and was inducted into the EIAC Hall of Fame in 1998. 

Washington, who performed well in both roles winning nine straight Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships (EIAC) and expanding the athletic program from eight to 18 sports including the return of football, realized that the growth of the athletic department demanded his full attention. After 11 years of wearing two hats, that of Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director, Mr. Washington has just completed his fifth year as full-time Athletic Director.

Benedict is currently in its third year as a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) affiliate and a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).  During the 2003-2004 year the athletic program had three teams to advance to the NCAA Regional Tournaments during the Spring season of competition, more than any other SIAC member institution. Under Willie Washington's leadership, Benedict College served as the host institution for the 2003-2004 SIAC Spring Sports Championships, the first in the college history. 

Washington is a graduate of Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance and received a Masters Degree from Jackson State. In college, Washington was co-captain of the basketball team during his junior and senior years, another testimony to his leadership abilities. After college he played in the European Professional Basketball League with the Carlos Basketball Club in Brussels, Belgium.  He is married to the former Genoise Gaylor and they are the parents of four children, Willie, a 2002 Benedict Alumni and Jurist Doc graduate from Michigan State, Gerard, a junior all SIAC All-Conference Defensive Back for the Benedict College Tigers, Chad and Kimberly, who will become members of the Benedict College family in the future.

At the present time, Mr. Washington serves as Chairman of the Palmetto Capital City Classic Committee and serves on a  number of athletic committees, boards and foundations.

Previous Page