Coquese Washington

Coquese Washington has served as the head coach of Rutgers University–New Brunswick women’s basketball since May 23, 2022, becoming the third full-time head coach in program history. A nationally respected leader with deep Big Ten roots, Washington arrived “On the Banks” following a distinguished head coaching tenure at Penn State and assistant and associate head coaching roles at Notre Dame and Oklahoma. At Rutgers, she has focused on rebuilding the program’s foundation while emphasizing player development, culture, and long-term competitiveness. In her first season, Washington guided Rutgers to its 1,000th program win, making the Scarlet Knights just the 22nd Division I women’s basketball program to reach the milestone. Under her leadership, Rutgers returned to postseason play with a WNIT appearance and has continued to grow both on the court and in fan engagement, including record-setting attendance milestones. Prior to Rutgers, Washington was a three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year at Penn State, where she led the Lady Lions to three consecutive Big Ten regular-season championships and multiple NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearances. She has mentored numerous All-Americans and WNBA players and is widely regarded as a program builder with a strong recruiting pedigree. Washington’s career also includes a decorated playing background at Notre Dame and six seasons in the WNBA, highlighted by a championship with the Houston Comets. Beyond coaching, she has been a significant figure in women’s basketball governance, serving as the founding president of the WNBA Players Association and holding leadership roles with the WBCA, NCAA, and USA Basketball. Her career reflects a lasting commitment to competitive excellence, advocacy, and the growth of women’s basketball.