Fierce, My Fight for Nothing Less

In 2022 The Washington Post called her the Jackie Robinson ofcollegiate women’s basketball coaching. Now Marian E. Washingtonshares her compelling life story, tracing her humble roots in ruralPennsylvania to the unprecedented legacy she left for theadvancement of women’s athletics and African American women.Washington became the first female African American head coachat a predominantly White institution at the Division I level when theUniversity of Kansas hired her in 1973. A year later she was namedKU’s first women’s athletics director. Over 31 years she coachedKansas women’s basketball to 560 wins, 11 NCAA Tournamentappearances and two Sweet Sixteens.But her legacy is the battle she waged for equity inside the wallsof her own institution and nationally, becoming a trailblazer for ahost of successful Division I Black female coaches. In 1996 shebecame the first Black woman on an Olympic team staff, serving asan assistant coach on the USA’s gold medal-winning team.Washington was the fi