Grambling will name interim Bobby Washington as its men’s basketball head coach today.
Washington succeeds Rick Duckett, who was placed on administrative last September after a player died during offseason training. During Duckett’s one season, Grambling went 6-23 overall and 4-14 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play in 2008-09.
A player-favorite, Washington “is talented and capable and has big shoes to fill in a short time,” Grambling athletics director Lin Dawson said last fall. “He understands that a great challenge lies ahead — but I think it’s safe to say that as a son of a basketball coach, it’s in his blood.”
Grambling would finish 7-21 overall, and 4-14 in the SWAC over the 2009-2010 campaign. Highlights included topping Northwestern State, a Cinderella team in the NCAA tournament a few years ago, and then No. 1-seed Jackson State in the SWAC Tournament.
As this search continued, however, Grambling eventually lost at least three commitments — though I’m hearing Raschard Boatner, all-conference at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, is still in. National Signing Day was last Wednesday, and the decision had not yet been made.
A native of Lexington, Ky., Washington previously served as head men’s basketball coach at Seminole Community College in Sanford, Fla., for five years. Prior to that, Washington spent three years as an assistant at Florida A&M, where in 2004 the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Rattlers won a first-round NCAA tournament contest.
Washington holds a bachelor of science degree in juvenile services and corrections, and a master’s of science in criminal justice from Eastern Kentucky University where he began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant under Travis Ford.
Details of the contract, including who will serve as Washington’s assistants at Grambling, are as yet undecided. Washington left immediately after talking to Dawson, hitting the road to rebuild GSU’s recruiting class.
Other candidates mentioned in the search included Southeastern Louisiana’s Roman Banks, Lamar’s Tic Price, Texas Southern’s Nick Van Exel and Kevin Nickelberry, in his second season at Hampton.
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Well Gramblingnites it worked out fine! Congrats Coach, continue to build ,grow and win!! Like I said before coach you got my respect. Most coaches wouldn't have even tried to come back, but you are hanging in there with us! Thanks coach!!
I guess since Upchurch already signed, and Boatner apparently will sign, it sounds like we may only lose Brandon Wilson from those commits. Wilson, I think was the franchise player of the group though. I hope we get him.
Hope Wilson comes on board also.