Head CoachCoquese Washington

Sixth Season • Notre Dame, 1992

About Coquese

Coquese Washington is an inspiring young coaching star in women's college basketball. As a four-year starter at point guard for Notre Dame and member of the WNBA Champion Houston Comets (2000), Coquese knows what it takes to be successful.

Coquese led the Lady Lions return to the national stage in 2010-11 with a second-place finish in the Big Ten and a first round win in the NCAA Tournament. In 2011-2012 the Lady Lions reached the Sweet Sixteen, Coquese was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, the Lady Lions finished the season ranked ninth in the country (ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll), and Alex Bentley and Maggie Lucas were named to the All-Big Ten First Team.

The dynamic leader of the Lady Lions is motivating her players to achieve their best in the classroom and on the court. With 100% graduation rate, 24 Academic All-Big Ten Selections, and seven First Team All-Big Ten recipients during her tenure, Coquese is just getting warmed up.

Coaching Highlights

Awarded Big Ten Coach of the Year (2011-12)
WBCA Region 6 Coach of the Year (2011-12)
Led Lady Lions to 26 wins and
the NCAA Sweet Sixteen (2011-12)
Guided Alex Bentley and Maggie Lucas
to First Team All-Big Ten Honors (2011-12)
Awarded BCA Female Coach of the Year (2011)
Led Lady Lions to NCAA Berth (2010-11)
and WNIT Berth (2009-10)
Guided Alex Bentley to First Team All-Big Ten Honors
and Maggie Lucas to Big Ten Freshman of the Year Selection
(2010-11)

Coaching Highlights

Guided Tyra Grant to back-to-back First Team
All-Big Ten Honors, Second Round WNBA Draft Selection
Garnered Two Straight Top 25 Recruiting Classes Including Penn State's Second McDonald's All-American, Maggie Lucas
First Female African-American Coach at Penn State
Named "Rising Star," 2007-2008 by WBCA
Helped Lead Notre Dame to 2001 NCAA Championship
Instrumental in Helping Notre Dame Secure
Eight Consecutive Top 25 Recruiting Classes
(Feat also accomplished only by Connecticut and Tennessee)
Position Coach for Three All-Americans
and Two WNBA Draft Picks at Notre Dame

Playing Experience

Played Five Seasons in the ABL and WNBA
WNBA Champion with Houston Comets (2000)
Four-year Starting Point Guard at Notre Dame
Second in Career Steals (307) and Fifth in Assists (554)
at Notre Dame

Other Career Highlights

Central in Creating WNBA Players Association
Serving as President from 1999-2001
Negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreements
for the WNBA
WBCA Executive Committee Treasurer 2010-Present
WBCA Board of Directors 2008-Present
USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Committee
2009-2012
Member of Kay Yow Cancer Fund Board of Directors
Member of NCAA Women's Basketball Issues Committee

Personal

Native of Flint, Michigan
Nickname: "Coach Quese"
Married to Raynell Brown with son, Quenton (born 2005),
and daughter Rhaiyna (born 2009)
Favorite Hobbies: Listening to Music and Reading
Quote: You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence therefore
is not an act, but a habit!

What They're Saying About Coquese

"Coquese is a very gifted young woman . . . She relates to young people, but is still old school in a positive way because she knows what it takes to get to the next level."

Nancy Lieberman
CBS/ESPN Women's Basketball Analyst
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Member

"When I was a WNBA teammate of Coquese Washington, it was obvious that she was going to be a successful coach one day. Her work ethic, knowledge of the game, and rapport with teammates were unmatched."

Rebecca Lobo
Former WNBA Player ('97-'03) • Women's Basketball Television Analyst

Next Coach
Fred Chmiel