Dallas (SMU) - SMU Women's Basketball Head Coach Adia Barnes names former three-time Big 10 Coach of the Year and two-time WBCA National Coach of the Year Finalist Coquese Washington as an Assistant Coach ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Washington (first name pronounced ko-KWEES) arrives at SMU with extensive experience in program building and coaching championship-caliber basketball at multiple Power Four institutions, and has compiled over 250 career victories in 16 seasons as a head coach. 

The heavily decorated head coach 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.  

We are extremely excited to add Coquese to our Mustang family," Barnes said. "I have known her for years and know her core values will align perfectly with the culture we are building at SMU. She is a proven winner with head-coaching experience, a phenomenal teacher of the game, and someone who has demonstrated the ability to recruit and develop all-conference-caliber players at the highest levels. Her passion and commitment to excellence, along with her understanding of the game, will impact our entire program as we continue to build something special at SMU."

Prior to arriving on the Hilltop, Washington was the Head Coach at Rutgers for four Seasons (2022-26) and led the Scarlet Knights WNIT Great 8 during the 2024-25 season. Washington developed multiple All-Big 10 caliber players, highlighted by Destiny Adams, who ended her collegiate career with a historic season, helping the team advance to the WNIT Great 8. 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. Washington also 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), as well as Chyna Cornwell, who was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media) during her first season at Rutgers.

"I am honored to join the SMU Women's Basketball staff, partnering with Adia to build this program into an ACC powerhouse and perennial NCAA Tournament team," Washington said. "Adia's competitive fire and championship pedigree make this a truly special opportunity. SMU has the resources, commitment and leadership needed to compete at the highest level. I'm incredibly excited to bring my experience, energy and passion to a program with championship aspirations."

Before arriving at Rutgers, 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.  

From 2012-14, Washington led the Lady Lions to 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.  

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 Virginia Tech 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.