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Monday. November 23, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
SportsMonday
Washington: A pioneer for women's basketball
Ruth Jacobson/Special to the KANSAN
Women's basketball coach Marian Washington
By MIKE CONSIDINE Staff writer
Staff writer
Throughout her career in basketball, Kansas coach Marian Washington has been a pioneer. Sometimes it has happened unwittingly or reluctantly, but Washington has continually broken new ground.
In 15 years at Kansas, Washington, 41, has been the nation's first black women's coach at a predominantly white school, the first black woman to coach a United Stats national team, and the first black coach to serve on the Kodak all-America team selection panel.
She was one of the youngest women's athletic directors in the country. Currently, she's one of two black women on the United States Olympic selection committee for women's basketball.
"I never thought about it whenever it happened," Washington said. "I wasn't concerned about it until after it was over. I think my friends do more to remind me of some of my successes than I do."
As a player, Washington was a member of the first women's collegiate national championship team and was named to the Women's Team be chosen for a U.S. National Team.
When Washington and Colleen Bowser were selected from a developmental camp to represent the team, they had no idea they were making history.
"I just sort of heard it in a roundabout, 'way'." Washington said. "I found out just through casual conversation. I was a weird. I still think it was weird.
The camp was conducted by Alberta Lee Cox, who coached the national team and earlier had been the first female coach of a U.S. International Team.
"When Marian came to me, she was what I always called a diamond in the rough," Cox said. "Marian's forte was her competitiveness. She was an extremely strong rebounder, but she was a well-rounded player."
Washington moved to the Kansas City area in 1970 to play for Cox's Amateur Athletic Union team, the Raytown Piperettes. She played nationally and internationally for six years.
"The going never really got too tough for Marian Washington," Cox said. "I sometimes think some of her players could take a lesson from her. The times that the score was not in our favor was when Marian was at her best."
The club featured 10 college All Americans and never finished lower than fifth nationally.
Washington was teaching physical education at King Junior High School
in Kansas City, Mo., when Kansas hired her in 1973 as women's basketball coach.
The NCAA enacted Title IX legislation in 1974 to give equal athletic opportunities to women. Washington added being women's athletic director and women's track coach to her duties.
At the time, she was competing internationally in basketball and team handball and decided to retire from those sports.
"I reached the point where I felt that physically, I would have been able to do it, but very few others felt that way," Washington said. "The administration I worked with really supported and helped me, but I took a lot of criticism from people who weren't necessarily supportive of the change."
Washington said she never considered a coaching career until she was discussing the subject en route to the 1971 women's world basketball championships with teammate Ellen Mozier Hanson (who retired last year after 13 years of coaching at UCLA and Minnesota.)
"We were talking to each other, not believing that we'd ever have to hang up our shoes," Washington said. "A few years later, we were coaching
against each other."
Washington said coaching was a natural extension of playing for her. She said Cox influenced her coaching style.
"A lot of the way I do things reflects a little on her." Washington said. "In a way, I think I'm my own individual, but I have great respect for coaches from the AIAW (American Intercollegiate Association of Women) and early NCAA days. They don't get any recognition."
Washington has a 246-165 career record. She has coached five teams that have won 20 games. Last year’s Big Eight Tournament, the captured the Big Eight Tournament.
She has also coached two All Americans — Lynette Woodard and Adrian Mitchell. In 1981, she coached the Junior National Team to second place in the Jones Cup tournament.
"Coach could easily have 300 wins if she scheduled down," said assistant coach Kevin Cook. "But she's made it tough on herself and on her teams by having one of the top-ranked schedules in the nation."
During the Lynette Woodard years, Kansas compiled a 107.33 record and gained national attention. Woodard played for Kansas from 1978 to 1981.
They were always ready to play,
plus they were so talented," Washington said. "No one thought the game could be played except on the east and west coasts. That was the team that gave us national recognition."
Woodard, who won the 181 Wade Trophy as the nation's top player, generated much of the recognition. She was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters for the past two years.
“There's no question she was the first women's superstar,” Washington said. “I felt very fortunate (to coach her). There may be others who come along, but it will be a long time before anyone does all the things she's accomplished.”
Washington said that after Woodard's graduation the team wasn't able to keep going at the same level.
"Last year's team really helped us win, and hopefully we can keep building on it."
Cook said Washington was a very good game coach. "She's seen so many situations as a player and as a coach that she's able to pull back her past experiences," he said. Players' respect
Washington excels game preparation, said Mary Myers, who played at Kansas from 1981 to 1985.
"She prepares you well," said
myers, who has been a high school assistant coach at Pittsburgh Allerdice High School and a graduate assistant at the University of Ohio. "You get everything you need to know to win a game."
Some of her current and former players said that they respected Washington because she took a personal interest in her teams.
"She coaches by example and also just by believing in you," said Evette Ott, who completed her eligibility last year. "She picks on the positive things and works on your weaknesses. I feel that in itself is motivational."
"I think I know most of my players very well," Washington said. "I try to find out where they're going and what their thoughts might be in terms of ambitions."
Washington has been the center of controversy at times during her
Senior Jackie Martin said that Washington could be a disciplinarian.
"If a starter does something wrong, Coach will sit (her) on the bench," Martin said. "She'll sacrifice whatever she has to just to let the starter know there's more to life than basketball." Controversy
coaching career. Last season, she criticized Big Eight officials.
"It wasn't something that came about overnight, and it was not everybody." Washington said. "I've said what I wanted to say, and now I'm ready to move on. I don't bring my problems to the AD (athletic director). I feel like I've got to handle them myself."
Washington said she tried to bring about change and fairness in regard to women's athletics.
Myers said her former coach made a difficult transition from a systematic to humanistic approach since the former point guard's freshman year.
"She has brought this program a long way in 15 years," Cook said. "If sure hasn't been without struggles, but she's always come through it."
"I always thought she was a solid rock — nothing seemed to bother her. Myers said. "Now she seems to be confident, with her players wants and wishes."
Washington said, "I'm basically a very serious person. Some people might think I'm upset when I'm really just listening hard or thinking hard. I don't realize how I might be coming across."
Washington received a bachelor of science degree in physical education and health at West Chester State College in 1970 and a master's degree in biodynamics and administration at the University of Kansas in 1975. All of her degrees were earned while she was involved in competitive athletics.
She said her work ethic was inherited from her parents.
washington said, "My boss brought us up to understand and appreciate, which was really the key, what hard work can bring and not to be afraid of it. Actually, I relish it. If anything, I had a hard time learning to relax."
Her mother, Marian, contributed to the softer side of her personality. . .
"If any of us feel we need someone, we can go to her," Martin said. "Her door is always open, not just to players, but to everyone."
Myers said Washington had been an inspiration to her.
"She has provided me with a great deal of discipline in all capacities," said Myers, who is currently seeking her Ph.D. in sports administration "She's a good role model for all females, but in particular for black females.
"The challenge as a coach is to create a bond between your players to where they're playing for you as much as for themselves. They want to win for you as well as to fulfill their competitive drive. If you can do that, you're a very unique person."
Special
Spirited competition brings pleasure to special kids in indoor tournament
By ELAINE SUNG Special to the Kansan
Most competitions have winners and losers. At the Kansas Special Olympics Indoor Sports Tournament East, there were many winners, but not a single loser was to be found.
Nearly 1,300 athletes from all over eastern Kansas participated in the tournament, which consisted of three indoor sports: roller skating, volleyball and bowling. The roller skating was at Fantasyland, 3210 Iowa St., the volleyball was at Robinson Center, and the bowling was at Royal Crest Lanes, Ninth and Iowa streets.
The Special Olympics has a slightly misleading title. Instead of being purely competitive, it is in essence a chance for athletes to prove to themselves that they can compete. The Special Olympics volunteer coordinator.
For 9-year-old Mikel Gueltzau, the games were very well, but they were not going very well. He bowled gutter balls in three straight frames and ended with a score of
"It's more of a social event." Young said. "It's definitely not a formal atmosphere. It's competition, but it's fun."
31.
He sat and watched as another athlete bowled a strike, but Gueltz zu remained undiscouraged.
"It's only a game," he said, shrugging. "At least I tried."
Gueltzau said he used a fake bowling ball for practice but had no real equipment to play with.
"Some of the younger ones don't know what's going on, but with the older ones, the competition matches up," Newman said. "They need to win." Newman said.
Many of the older athletes exhibit high levels of competitiveness, despite the fact that all participants receive some sort of award.
Heather Newman, one of the coaches for the Shawnee Mission group, said athletes practiced an hour a week, even in the off-season.
Newman was observing Kevin Wright, one of the members of her group. She stayed by his side, telling Wright, who is diabetic, to slow down and gave him ice to chew on.
"Watch the arrows, Kevin," she shouted. She tried to coach Wright on his moves, but he was getting
Other athletes, such as ones in a group from Shawnee Mission, have the facilities to practice in.
frustured with each frame, bowling gutter balls and receiving low scores. He complained that the ball he had was too heavy.
Newman scrambled to find a lighter ball, finally finding one at the other end of the bowling alley.
For Chuck Cullen and Patricia Christ of the Coffeyville-Osage-Franklin group, their performances in the roller skating competition were good enough to receive third and first place awards respectively. It was much less of a competition to them, but they agreed that winning was a big part of it.
"He's not doing as well as he should. He's going way too fast," she said. "I have to settle him down. Last year, he got so wound up, he practically threw the ball around. That's why I'm staying by him this year."
"I wouldn't get mad if I lost," Cullen said. "It's just for fun, anyway, but I like winning. That's the best part."
Wright finally slowed down and improved his score by the end of the game. Wright, who also competed in the volleyball tournament, said he didn't feel angry, but winning was still a big deal to him.
Don Beller, Lenexa, gives Jan Monty a big smile after their volleyball game, while Amy Barmann relaxes. Jan and Amy were part of the Shawnee Mission team that competed Friday at the Special Olympics in Robinson Gymnasium.
Sandra J. Watts/Special to the KANSAN
North Carolina beats Syracuse in overtime, wins Tip-Off
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Ranzino Smith scored 21 points and Jeff Lebo added 20, including the clinching free throws in overtime, as No. 3 North Carolina beat top-ranked Syracuse 94-91 Saturday in the ninth annual Tie-Off Classic.
The Associated Press
The Tar Heels played without starters J.R. Reid and Steve Bucknall, who were suspended from the game by Coach Dean Smith for their involvement in an altercation last month.
However, their replacements — freshmen Pete Chilcutt and Rick Fox — combined for 29 points.
Chilcutt forced the overtime when his jumper from the foul line bounced around the rim and dropped in as the buzzer sounded to tie the tame at 85-85.
Syracuse took an 89-45 lead early in the overtime, but the Tar Heels tied the game on two free throws by Smith and a layup by Chilcutt. Syracuse's last lead came on a short jumper by Stephen Thompson that made it
91-89, but North Carolina scored the next five points, the last two on free throws by Lebo with 21 seconds to play.
Syracuse freshman Matt Roe made two free throws, but they were offset by a dunk by Fox, who finished with 15 points, with four seconds left.
Scott Williams had 14 points for North Carolina and Kevin Madden added 12.
Rony Sekaly led Syracuse with 23 points, one more than Sherman Douglas.
Syracuse, which lost the NCAA championship game last season after beating the Tar Heels in the Eastern Regional final, dominated he first half and took a 50-39 lead at intermission. They extended the lead to 59-45 before the Tar Heels rallied.
Williams led the North Carolina comeback, scoring seven straight points for the Tar Heels as they trimmed a 59-45 deficit to 63-52. North Carolina then scored seven straight points, the last five by Smith, and pulled within one point with 3:27 to play on a layup by Smith, the only senior on the team.
A free throw by Sherman Douglas gave
Svacuase a 81-79 lead with 3:12 to play.
Kevin Madden's layup brought North Carolina into the first tie of the second half and the Tar Heels took the lead on a driving layup by Williams.
Syracuse tied the game with 11 seconds left on two free throws by Seikaly. Two more free throws by Derrick Coleman, who stole the inbounds pass after the second free throw, gave Syracuse an 85-83 lead.