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

This season, Drake is 12-14 and 8-10, which tied 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.