12
2017.10.15
Friday, February 27, 1976
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Rafael, paused here on a figurine...1870
University Daily Kansan
A coach who is also an athlete. Washington demonstrates the art of getting into position for a rebound.
From coaches such as Bill Easton, Washington has learned how to coax the best out of her players.
During a basketball game, Washington occasionally loses some of the self-control which is strongly evident in her daily life. On this occasion it was a referee's decision that provoked her irie.
Entering Washington's office, one gets an idea of the feelings inside.
Story by Rachel Case Photos by Jay Koelzer
Washington frequently finds herself the center of activity.
Washington the driving force
Marian Washington--that's the first name that comes to mind when you think of women's athletics at UConn.
And there are good reasons for it.
Washington was appointed as KU's first director of women's athletics in July 1974. She is the head coach of the women's basketball team and formerly was head coach of the women's track team she inaugurated at Kansas, but she has an international reputation in basketball and track circles as an outstanding athlete.
Washington has been a pioneer in the field of women's athletics. Acceptance of the female athlete is one of the biggest changes she has seen since she began playing in sports 30 years ago when she was in the first grade.
"I had a friend who wanted to be a putter shot," she said. "She wrote to her fiance, who was in the service in France, and told him of her interest in shot putting. He wrote back and told her to quit."
Washington said that the amount of money available women's athletic programs was the other big change, she said.
She said she could remember competing on an AAU track team in high school and being eligible for competition in New York, but she had to provide her own money for food and lodging.
"When I first came to KU in 1972, the total budget for women's athletics was $9,000," she said. Sharon Drydale, a professor of physical education, was coordinator of the intercollegiate athletic program, which was then part of the physical education department.
"Teams competed in eight sports: basketball, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball and swimming. Swimming had only been started a year before I came. There were only five coaches, including myself. I coached basketball and started a track and field team.
"When I became the athletic director, we convinced the Student Senate to give us $38,000. Now our coaching staff numbers 13 with nine head coaches and four assistors."
Washington's accomplishments don't stop there. Since 1974 she has been instrumental in establishing a network of health centers.
first Jayhawk Basketball Classic for women and conducting clinics for girls for the 10 sports in which KU competes intercollegiately. The women's cross country team was introduced in 1974 after she had become the athletic director.
Despite her many accomplishments, Washington remains modest.
"I'm only as good as the people I have working with
who can have an excellent coaching and
administrative staff."
Pat Collison, administrative assistant to the women's athletics department, said, "Miss Washington is a delightful person. She's very versatile. She can do anything in the team. She's very much a part of each of the 10 programs."
In addition to her duties as athletic director and basketball coach, Washington still finds time to compete in sports. In December, she went to the Soviet Union to play team handball for the United States at the World Tournament. World tournaments are held for sports not included in the Olympics.
Playing basketball and throwing the disc are
playful activities. Both have had a great impact on her life.
And both have had a great impact on her life.
A native of Pennsylvania, Washington played basketball at West Chester (Pa). State college before moving to Raytown. Mo., in 1970 when she won a position on the U.S. Women's Basketball team. The coach of that team, Alice Lee Cox, lived in Raytown and wanted her team close to by practice.
From 1970 to 1972 she taught at Martin Luther King Junior High School in Kansas City, Mo. While there, she became acquainted with former KU track coach Bill Easton.
She began driving to Lawrence two days a week to work with Easton on improving her dissection throwing. She spent all of her training that included running, sprinting and weight training. Her dis Throwting distance increased from 108 feet to
Easton said, "It was a real pleasure to work with She. She's very receptive and follows instructions to Reqs."
"I knew her about as well as anybody. She's a lady, a good athlete and a great student."
An athlete, an athletic director and a basketball coach, Washington is the driving force behind women's athletics at Kansas University.