Standout HBCU athletic director passes away

The Benedict College community is mourning the loss of one of the most influential figures in the history of its athletic program. Longtime Benedict College athletic director and former men’s basketball coach Willie Washington passed away Monday at the age of 79. Washington spent more than 38 years at the Columbia, South Carolina, HBCU, helping transform Tiger Athletics and leaving behind a legacy that extended far beyond wins and championships.

Washington arrived at Benedict in 1988 as the school’s head men’s basketball coach and assistant athletic director after spending 12 years as the head basketball coach and athletic director at Allen University. He eventually transitioned into leading Benedict’s athletic department full-time, overseeing a period of significant growth that included the return of the football program, the development of Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, and the expansion of the college’s athletic offerings.

Under Washington’s leadership, Benedict grew into one of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s most successful athletic programs. The Tigers captured 50 SIAC championships and 10 Commissioner’s Cup trophies during his tenure, while the athletic department expanded from eight to 14 sports.

Washington’s impact at Benedict began on the basketball court. During his tenure as head coach, he never recorded a losing season and led the Tigers to nine consecutive Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and four appearances in the NAIA National Tournament. His success earned him EIAC Coach of the Year honors eight times.

His contributions to Benedict and HBCU athletics earned him induction into both the Benedict College and SIAC halls of fame. His influence was further cemented when the SIAC established the Willie Washington Athletic Director of the Year Award in his honor.

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