What they’re saying: Notre Dame women’s basketball assistant coach leaves for Rutgers
The word that first came to Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach Niele Ivey’s mind when asked about Coquese Washington was loyalty. Then family.
Washington called Ivey a “little sister.” Sometimes, big sisters are stuck, for lack of a better term, in the shadow of their younger siblings. But in this case, not any longer. Washington, an assistant on Ivey’s staff the last two seasons, is headed to Rutgers to become the head coach there.
And Ivey couldn’t be happier.
“Rutgers you got a good one!!” Ivey tweeted after the news broke Monday evening.
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Pure elation for Washington — a Notre Dame alum who played for the Irish from 1989-93, graduated from Notre Dame law school in 1997 and was an assistant on Muffet McGraw’s staff from 1999-07 — seems to be the consensus from current members of the Irish’s women’s basketball program.
Elation, with a hint of sadness, that is.
“An absolute joy to be around,” Notre Dame junior forward Nat Marshall tweeted. “I’ll always be a fan of (Washington)! Love you, Quese! We’re going to miss you.”
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The tweet was complete with a crying emoji and a heart.
Washington was only around for two years in her latest stint with Notre Dame, but her blue and gold roots obviously run deep. She was billed as an excellent recruiter, helping to secure commitments from incoming McDonald’s All-American freshman KK Bransford and Texas graduate transfer Lauren Ebo, but she was also a key in-game resource. Washington was on the bench for the program’s first national title in 2001.
Ivey was on the court as the team’s point guard.
“I needed family around me,” Ivey said when recalling reaching out to Washington to offer her a job in 2020.
Family. There’s that word again.
“Rutgers got a GREAT one,” Notre Dame assistant Michaela Mabrey said. “My family forever.”
And again.
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Washington spent 12 seasons as the head coach at Penn State. She took the Nittany Lions to the NCAA Tournament four times and twice advanced to the Sweet 16. After helping the Irish get back to the Sweet 16 this past season, it felt like a matter of time before she’d get a look at another job like this.
Washington is once again in the Big Ten, but her family back in the ACC is rooting her on.
