ATLANTA — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference mourns the loss of Benedict College Director of Athletics and SIAC Hall of Famer Willie Washington, whose decades of leadership, service and achievement left an indelible mark on the SIAC, Benedict College and generations of student-athletes, coaches and administrators. Washington passed away Monday, Aug. 31.
Washington was one of the most respected and accomplished administrators in SIAC history, with a career defined by competitive excellence, program development and student-athlete success.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Willie Washington,” said SIAC Commissioner Anthony Holloman, Ed.D. “Coach Washington was held in high regard by all whose lives he touched during his career. His leadership, wisdom and commitment helped shape generations of student-athletes, coaches and administrators. His induction into the SIAC Hall of Fame and the award that now bears his name speak to the respect he earned and the legacy he leaves behind.”
Washington became Benedict’s full-time director of athletics in 1998-99 and helped guide the institution’s transition back to NCAA Division II competition and the SIAC while expanding the athletics program from eight to 14 sports, including the return of football.
Following Benedict’s return to the SIAC, Washington helped establish the Tigers as one of the conference’s most successful athletics programs, as Benedict captured more than 50 SIAC championships across multiple sports during his tenure.
Benedict won five SIAC Men’s Commissioner’s Cups under Washington’s leadership, claiming the honor in 2014-15, 2015-16, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24. The Tigers also captured five SIAC Women’s Commissioner’s Cups in 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Benedict swept the men’s and women’s awards four times: 2014-15, 2015-16, 2021-22 and 2022-23.
In 2024, Washington became the second Benedict representative inducted into the SIAC Hall of Fame, joining Dr. Leroy Walker, whom he considered a mentor.
In July 2026, the SIAC further honored Washington’s legacy by presenting the inaugural SIAC Willie Washington Athletic Director of the Year Award. Named in recognition of his remarkable contributions to intercollegiate athletics, the award honors athletic directors who demonstrate exceptional leadership, competitive excellence, innovation and a commitment to advancing their institutions and the conference. Tuskegee University Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Reginald Ruffin was selected as the inaugural recipient.
Washington’s contributions to the conference extended well beyond Benedict’s competitive success. He served as chairman of the SIAC Athletic Directors Council, contributing to the leadership and advancement of athletics throughout the conference.
At the national level, Washington served on the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee and was a member of the NCAA Division II Management Council, NCAA Honors Committee and NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Washington arrived at Benedict in 1988 as head men’s basketball coach and assistant athletic director after 12 years at Allen University, where he served as head men’s basketball coach and director of athletics.
During his tenure as Benedict’s head men’s basketball coach, the Tigers never experienced a losing season. Washington led Benedict to nine consecutive Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) championships, earned eight EIAC Coach of the Year honors and guided the Tigers to four National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national tournament appearances during the 1990s. He reached the 200-win plateau during the 1997-98 season.
Benedict also won six of the seven EIAC Commissioner’s Cups presented during its time in the conference.
Washington was named the NAIA Southeast Region Athletic Director of the Year in 1999.
Washington’s influence also extended to academics and student-athlete well-being. Under his leadership, Benedict student-athletes consistently maintained a cumulative grade-point average above 3.0. The institution produced its first two Academic All-Americans in 2015, followed by additional Academic All-Americans in 2017, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Washington was instrumental in securing NCAA grants to assist student-athletes, and in 2010, Benedict received the NCAA Division II National Community Engagement Award of Excellence.
His commitment to service extended beyond college athletics. Washington received the Presidential Citation Civic Leadership Award from the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP in 2012 and served as chairman of the board of the Laurinburg Institute, a historic African American preparatory school in Laurinburg, North Carolina.
Washington’s career earned him recognition in several halls of fame. In addition to his 2024 SIAC Hall of Fame induction, he was inducted into the EIAC Hall of Fame in 1998 and Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also inducted into the Renaissance Foundation’s Finney Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Allen University Athletic Hall of Fame and the Laurinburg Hall of Fame in 2016.
Washington graduated from Tougaloo College in 1974 with a degree in health, physical education and recreation and was a member of the men’s basketball team. He later earned a master’s degree in health and physical education from Jackson State University. Following his collegiate career, Washington played professionally for the Carlos Basketball Club in Brussels, Belgium.
Washington’s influence reached far beyond wins and championships. The standard he set through leadership, mentorship and service leaves an enduring legacy at Benedict College, throughout the SIAC and across collegiate athletics.
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference extends its deepest condolences to Washington’s family, friends, colleagues, former student-athletes and the entire Benedict College community.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and eight women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit www.thesiac.com.