Rutgers University Athletics

Awards & Honors 
WBCA Carol Eckman Integrity in Coaching Award (2023) 
Big Ten Coach of the Year (2012, 2013, 2014) 
WBCA Region 6 Coach of the Year (2012, 2013) 
WBCA National Coach of the Year Finalist (2012, 2013) 
BCA Female Coach of the Year (2011, 2013) 
Greater Flint Hall of Fame Inductee (2009) 
WBCA "Rising Star" Award Winner (2008) 

Coquese Washington was named the third full-time head coach in the history of Rutgers women's basketball on May 23, 2022. A three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year during her 12-year tenure at Penn State, Washington (first name pronounced ko-KWEES) arrived "On the Banks" with extensive experience program building and coaching championship-caliber basketball.   

During her third and most recent season at the helm of the Scarlet Knights, Washington brought the team back to the postseason for the first time in 2021, with the program’s third appearance in the WNIT.  

Destiny Adams ended her collegiate career with a historic season, helping the team advance to the WNIT Great 8 with the program’s seventh triple-double and first since 2020. Adams was also named to the Big Ten Second Team, USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Midseason Watch List selection, All-ECAC Second Team and First Team All-MET. 
 
Rutgers continued to grow under Washington in her second slate on the sidelines. The team celebrated its 50th season in program history, highlighting historic moments, players and coaches throughout the year, which culminated in a grand celebration for Alumni Weekend. RU also inducted its inaugural Knights of Honor class in the 1982, 2000 and 2007 teams with banner is Jersey Mike's Arena.   
 
The squad earned its sixth advance sellout in program history and first since 2006, against Iowa, which became the most attended basketball game between men's and women's contests of the entire 2023-24 campaign.  
 
Adams had a breakout year in her first campaign "On The Banks" under Washington. The transfer led active players on the team in multiple statistical categories while also ranking top-5 in the conference. She earned All-Big Ten Second Team (Coaches) honors and an Honorable Mention (Media). In addition, Adams set the Big Ten Tournament single game rebounding record with 24 boards in the opening round.  

In her first season as head coach, Washington set a solid foundation for the team. She guided the program to its 1,000th win in program history with a road victory over Minnesota (Jan. 12), becoming just the 22nd Division I team and the third squad in the Big Ten to reach the milestone. In the same game against the Gophers, Washington also picked up her 100th Big Ten win.   

Washington aided freshman guard Kaylene Smikle in chasing greatness, as she was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team (Media & Coaches) and the Big Ten All-Freshman team (Media & Coaches). The guard also collected three Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, the most in program history. Under Washington's direction, Smikle became Rutgers’ all-time leading freshman scorer, ending the season with 573 points to best the previous high of 536 points. She is the third freshman in program history to amass 500+ points.   

Smikle paced the team with 17.9 points per game in addition to averaging 19.5 points in Big Ten play. She was the only Scarlet Knight to net 20+ points in a game during the season and accomplished the feat 15 times, including versus 12 Big Ten opponents, leading all freshmen in reaching double-digit scoring. The Farmingdale, New York product also paced the team with 56 three-pointers and 69 steals to rank top-10 in the conference in both categories.    
 
Washington also saw Chyna Cornwell named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media) as well as earning the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. In a breakout season, Cornwell paced RU with nine double-doubles, including four in Big Ten play.  

Before settling “On The Banks” Washington spent two seasons at Notre Dame, marking her second coaching stint in South Bend after serving as assistant coach for her alma mater from 1999-2007. She earned her first head coaching position at Penn State, where she became the first female African American head coach in the school's history and went on to lead the Lady Lions to three Big Ten titles and four NCAA Tournaments. Washington also spent the 2019-20 season as associate head coach at Oklahoma.   

During her most recent two seasons at Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish returned to the national scene with an appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2022. The Sweet 16 run marked Washington's 10th season on the sidelines in South Bend following an eight-year stint as an assistant under Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Muffet McGraw, highlighted by eight consecutive NCAA Tournaments, four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, and the 2001 NCAA Championship.   

The Washington era at Rutgers signals the head coach's return to the Big Ten. From 2012-14, the Lady Lions claimed three consecutive Big Ten regular-season titles, becoming one of four programs in conference history to win three or more regular-season crowns in a row. She guided Penn State to Sweet 16 appearances in 2012 and 2014 while developing 17 players to All-Big Ten status on 32 separate occasions.   

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

Her programs' success has mirrored her prowess on the recruiting trail, where she signed 12 top-25 recruiting classes throughout her coaching career at Notre Dame and Penn State. After recruitment came development as Washington mentored six All-Americans and 13 future WNBA professionals. During her tenure at Notre Dame, Washington was directly responsible for developing three All-Americans and two Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winners – Niele Ivey (current Notre Dame head coach) and Megan Duffy (current Marquette University head coach). Washington also worked with Alicia Ratay, who is the NCAA's career three-point field goal percentage leader.   

A student of the game, Washington enjoyed success in the college ranks and later as a professional in the WNBA. During her time in an Irish uniform, Washington rewrote the record books with 554 career assists (seventh all-time) and 307 career steals (third all-time). Her 2.7 steals-per-game career average still holds the top spot in South Bend. Washington was just as impressive in the classroom, earning her undergraduate degree in just three years and, later, earning a juris doctorate from Notre Dame Law School in 1997 to become a "Double-Domer."   

Washington then played six seasons in the WNBA and won a WNBA title with the Houston Comets in 2000. She followed the Comets' championship season with another strong campaign in 2001, ranking among the Top 10 in the WNBA in assists (ninth) and steals (fourth) as the Comets made their fifth consecutive playoff appearance. Midway through the 2002 season, she was traded to the Indiana Fever, where she guided that club to its first-ever playoff berth and became the first player in WNBA history to lead three different squads to the postseason.   

She was 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. Washington led negotiations for the association's first collective bargaining agreement, and as executive vice president, 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 coaching. She has 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 served five years on the NCAA Women's Basketball Issues Committee.  Currently, she Co-Chairs the WBCA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.   

A native of Flint, Michigan, Washington was inducted into the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame in December 2009. Washington and her husband, Raynell Brown, have two children, Quenton and Rhaiyna.   

Coquese Washington was named the third full-time head coach in the history of Rutgers women's basketball on May 23, 2022. A three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year during her 12-year tenure at Penn State, Washington (first name pronounced ko-KWEES) arrived "On the Banks" with extensive experience program building and coaching championship-caliber basketball.   

During her third and most recent season at the helm of the Scarlet Knights, Washington brought the team back to the postseason for the first time in 2021, with the program’s third appearance in the WNIT.  

Destiny Adams ended her collegiate career with a historic season, helping the team advance to the WNIT Great 8 with the program’s seventh triple-double and first since 2020. Adams was also named to the Big Ten Second Team, USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Midseason Watch List selection, All-ECAC Second Team and First Team All-MET. 
 
Rutgers continued to grow under Washington in her second slate on the sidelines. The team celebrated its 50th season in program history, highlighting historic moments, players and coaches throughout the year, which culminated in a grand celebration for Alumni Weekend. RU also inducted its inaugural Knights of Honor class in the 1982, 2000 and 2007 teams with banner is Jersey Mike's Arena.   
 
The squad earned its sixth advance sellout in program history and first since 2006, against Iowa, which became the most attended basketball game between men's and women's contests of the entire 2023-24 campaign.  
 
Adams had a breakout year in her first campaign "On The Banks" under Washington. The transfer led active players on the team in multiple statistical categories while also ranking top-5 in the conference. She earned All-Big Ten Second Team (Coaches) honors and an Honorable Mention (Media). In addition, Adams set the Big Ten Tournament single game rebounding record with 24 boards in the opening round.  

In her first season as head coach, Washington set a solid foundation for the team. She guided the program to its 1,000th win in program history with a road victory over Minnesota (Jan. 12), becoming just the 22nd Division I team and the third squad in the Big Ten to reach the milestone. In the same game against the Gophers, Washington also picked up her 100th Big Ten win.   

Washington aided freshman guard Kaylene Smikle in chasing greatness, as she was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team (Media & Coaches) and the Big Ten All-Freshman team (Media & Coaches). The guard also collected three Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, the most in program history. Under Washington's direction, Smikle became Rutgers’ all-time leading freshman scorer, ending the season with 573 points to best the previous high of 536 points. She is the third freshman in program history to amass 500+ points.   

Smikle paced the team with 17.9 points per game in addition to averaging 19.5 points in Big Ten play. She was the only Scarlet Knight to net 20+ points in a game during the season and accomplished the feat 15 times, including versus 12 Big Ten opponents, leading all freshmen in reaching double-digit scoring. The Farmingdale, New York product also paced the team with 56 three-pointers and 69 steals to rank top-10 in the conference in both categories.    
 
Washington also saw Chyna Cornwell named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media) as well as earning the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. In a breakout season, Cornwell paced RU with nine double-doubles, including four in Big Ten play.  

Before settling “On The Banks” Washington spent two seasons at Notre Dame, marking her second coaching stint in South Bend after serving as assistant coach for her alma mater from 1999-2007. She earned her first head coaching position at Penn State, where she became the first female African American head coach in the school's history and went on to lead the Lady Lions to three Big Ten titles and four NCAA Tournaments. Washington also spent the 2019-20 season as associate head coach at Oklahoma.   

During her most recent two seasons at Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish returned to the national scene with an appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2022. The Sweet 16 run marked Washington's 10th season on the sidelines in South Bend following an eight-year stint as an assistant under Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Muffet McGraw, highlighted by eight consecutive NCAA Tournaments, four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, and the 2001 NCAA Championship.   

The Washington era at Rutgers signals the head coach's return to the Big Ten. From 2012-14, the Lady Lions claimed three consecutive Big Ten regular-season titles, becoming one of four programs in conference history to win three or more regular-season crowns in a row. She guided Penn State to Sweet 16 appearances in 2012 and 2014 while developing 17 players to All-Big Ten status on 32 separate occasions.   

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

Her programs' success has mirrored her prowess on the recruiting trail, where she signed 12 top-25 recruiting classes throughout her coaching career at Notre Dame and Penn State. After recruitment came development as Washington mentored six All-Americans and 13 future WNBA professionals. During her tenure at Notre Dame, Washington was directly responsible for developing three All-Americans and two Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winners – Niele Ivey (current Notre Dame head coach) and Megan Duffy (current Marquette University head coach). Washington also worked with Alicia Ratay, who is the NCAA's career three-point field goal percentage leader.   

A student of the game, Washington enjoyed success in the college ranks and later as a professional in the WNBA. During her time in an Irish uniform, Washington rewrote the record books with 554 career assists (seventh all-time) and 307 career steals (third all-time). Her 2.7 steals-per-game career average still holds the top spot in South Bend. Washington was just as impressive in the classroom, earning her undergraduate degree in just three years and, later, earning a juris doctorate from Notre Dame Law School in 1997 to become a "Double-Domer."   

Washington then played six seasons in the WNBA and won a WNBA title with the Houston Comets in 2000. She followed the Comets' championship season with another strong campaign in 2001, ranking among the Top 10 in the WNBA in assists (ninth) and steals (fourth) as the Comets made their fifth consecutive playoff appearance. Midway through the 2002 season, she was traded to the Indiana Fever, where she guided that club to its first-ever playoff berth and became the first player in WNBA history to lead three different squads to the postseason.   

She was 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. Washington led negotiations for the association's first collective bargaining agreement, and as executive vice president, 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 coaching. She has 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 served five years on the NCAA Women's Basketball Issues Committee.  Currently, she Co-Chairs the WBCA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.   

A native of Flint, Michigan, Washington was inducted into the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame in December 2009. Washington and her husband, Raynell Brown, have two children, Quenton and Rhaiyna.   

  
By the Numbers 
In 25+ years, Coquese Washington has recruited, developed, and coached… 
36 All-Conference selections in the Big East and Big Ten 
13 WNBA professionals 
8 All-Americans 
3 Big East Defensive Players of the Year 
2 Big Ten Players of the Year 
2 Big Ten Freshmen of the Year 
2 Big East Freshmen of the Year 
1 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year 
1 Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year