October 8, 2025; Rosemont, Illinois, USA; Rutgers coach Coquese Washington speaks during Big Ten women’s basketball media day at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Image Rutgers fired women’s basketball coach Coquese Washington on Monday after losing four straight games.
The Scarlet Knights’ season ended Saturday with 11 straight losses and a 9-20 record, including 1-17 in the Big Ten. This marked the worst conference record in program history.
Washington, 55, succeeds Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer C. Vivian Stringer, who is 42-84 in four seasons. Stringer won 547 games in 27 seasons from 1995 to 2022 and led Rutgers to 17 NCAA Tournaments.
“Rutgers women’s basketball has a proud and storied history of success, and there is no reason why our program cannot regain its place among the nation’s elite,” said Athletic Director Keli Zinn. “We have invested in women’s basketball in many ways, compete in the best athletic conference in the country, and have the support of passionate fans and loyal donors. I am confident we will find the right coach to take this program to the level it deserves. I thank Coquese for her service to Rutgers and wish her the best.”
Rutgers said a national search for a new coach will begin immediately.
Washington went 209-169 as Penn State’s head coach from 2007-19, winning Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 2010-11 and winning three regular season titles (2012-14).
She was an assistant coach at Oklahoma (2019-20) and an assistant coach at Notre Dame (2020-22) before taking the job at Piscataway, New Jersey.
Washington is the second women’s basketball coach from a major conference to be fired this month. Boston College parted ways with Joanna Bernabei-McNamee on Sunday after eight seasons.
–Field level media
