Marian Washington facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 26, 1946 West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Basketball | |
| 1972–1973 | Kansas (assistant) |
| 1973–2004 | Kansas |
| 1982 | United States |
| 1996 | United States (assistant) |
| Track and field | |
| 1972–1973 | Kansas |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1974–1979 | Kansas (women's) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 560–363 (basketball) |
| Women's Basketball Hall of Fame | |
Marian Elizabeth Washington was born on August 26, 1946. She is a famous former women's basketball coach. She is best known for coaching at the University of Kansas for over 30 years. During her career, Marian Washington earned many awards. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. She also led her teams to many wins and coached in several NCAA Tournaments. She received the Black Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Early Life and Sports
Marian Washington grew up on a farm near West Chester, Pennsylvania. When she was in high school, she was a talented athlete. She played seven different sports at Henderson High School.
College Basketball Career
Washington went to West Chester State College. This school is now called West Chester University. She played basketball there. Her team won the first national women's basketball tournament in 1969. This tournament was organized by the CIAW. The CIAW was an early sports group for women's college athletics.
Coaching Career at Kansas
After being an assistant coach for one year, Marian Washington became the head coach. She coached the Kansas Jayhawks women's basketball team. She led the team at the University of Kansas from 1973 to 2004. That's over 30 years! She also worked as the women's athletic director at Kansas from 1974 to 1979.
Coaching for Team USA
Leading the 1982 USA Team
In 1982, Marian Washington was chosen to be the head coach for the USA team. This team played in the William Jones Cup competition. The tournament took place in Taipei, Taiwan. The USA team started very strong. They won their first four games by many points.
Their fifth game was against Australia. It was a very close game. With only half a minute left, the USA was ahead by one point. The USA team scored more points from free throws. Australia also scored, making it a one-point game again. But the USA made two more free throws with just two seconds left. They won the game 65–62.
The next two games were easy wins for the USA. Then, they played against Canada in the final game. Canada had not lost any games yet. The final game was very close. The USA team lost to Canada 70–67. They finished the tournament with only one loss and won the silver medal. Two USA players, Lea Henry and Paula McGee, were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Assistant Coach at the Olympics
In 1996, Marian Washington was an assistant coach for the USA National Team. This team went on to win the gold medal. They won at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
Awards and Recognition
Marian Washington received several important awards for her coaching.
- In 1991, she won the Carol Eckman Award. This award honors coaches who show great leadership and dedication.
- In 2004, she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a very high honor for women in basketball.
