Washington Plans to Step Down as Drake’s Basketball Coach

A week after saying he planned to remain for the last year of his contract, Drake basketball Coach Rudy Washington resigned Friday.

“I made the decision. It was time to pursue other opportunities and interests,” Washington said in St. Louis where the Bulldogs are playing in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.

“I want to pursue and have the opportunity to pursue a career in athletic administration.”

Washington, 44, has been Drake coach since 1990, coming from Iowa where he was an assistant. Previously he was an assistant at USC and Verbum Dei High.

Washington has been mentioned recently for several athletic administration positions, including commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Washington, executive director of the Black Coaches Assn., has a record of 63-101 at Drake and has never had a winning season.

Drake is 12-14 and 8-10, tying the Bulldogs for sixth in the Valley. Drake is seeded eighth in the Missouri Valley tournament and is scheduled to play league leader Bradley in the first round of the tournament today.

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Rutgers officials ended speculation about the future of Coach Bob Wenzel by extending his contract. Terms were not disclosed.

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Toledo Coach Larry Gipson announced his resignation, effective at the end of the season. Gipson, 44, who will become an interim assistant athletic director, has a 66-71 record at the school.

Toledo is 16-12, 9-8, good for sixth place in the Mid-American Conference.

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Wake Forest forward Antonio Jackson, upset about his playing time, will transfer at the end of the season and will not rejoin the team this year, said Coach Dave Odom.

Jackson, a 6-foot-8 sophomore who averaged 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in limited action, has Not decided on where he will transfer.