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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this year while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Dr. Kenn Johnson, KU alum and author of multiple books about KU basketball, about Marian Washington winning a national title in 1969 and a gold medal in 1996.

In addition to being a great basketball player Marian was a national indoor shot-put champ and made the Olympic Trials twice as a discus thrower: which sport was she best at, and which sport did she enjoy the most? It is difficult to tell because she was very successful in high school (where she excelled in seven sports!), college (where she was a 2-time AAU All-American who led her team to the 1969 national title and an outstanding track and field athlete) and beyond (where she was a record holder in the discus at the Olympic Trials in 1964/1968/1972).

She was a 2-time AAU All-American at West Chester State and helped lead the Golden Rams to a national title in 1969: what did it mean to her to win the 1st-ever title in the history of women’s college basketball? It has to feel great to lead your team to a national title, particularly when you lead a lower-level team to an unbeaten record in the Women’s NIT. She was also was proud to be named the first Black woman to ever make the US national team.

How did she end up at Kansas? Before KU she taught physical education at Martin Luther King Junior High in Kansas City, KS, then in the fall of 1972 became a graduate student at KU. While still a student she was named an assistant instructor of physical education, then named Director of Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics where she directed KU’s women’s athletic programs in basketball/track. She taught several classes and earned her master’s degree in biodynamics and administration in 1975. After she was named head basketball coach she also founded KU’s women’s track and field program.

She served as the 1st/only Athletics Director for Women’s Athletics at Kansas in the 1970s after the passage of Title IX: how did she balance being a coach with being an administrator before turning 30? I think it just came naturally because of her long involvement in a variety of sports. It was also a time when women’s sports were just becoming popular and there was not much competition for administrative positions, so she was at the right place at the right time to be named.

Lynette Woodard is 1 of the greatest women’s basketball players ever: how did Marian recruit her to Kansas, and how did she like coaching her? Coach Washington attended the state 5-A basketball tourney in April 1977 and saw Lynette lead her North High team to the state championship. In the three-game event she scored 113 points! Right then and there Washington offered Lynette a scholarship. It would be impossible to not like coaching the best women’s basketball player ever: a four-time All-American, which is a feat that few have ever achieved. Lynette said of Washington, “She understood the game and was able to communicate it very well. I was gifted but still did not understand how to play the game until I had a great teacher like her who could break the game down because it was going really fast for me. She taught me to work hard, be committed to excellence, and not cut any corners. It was all fun and games at first but she taught me to believe in myself by being competitive. After I was named an All-American for the first time, Coach Washington took my head out of the clouds without beating me down and challenged me to improve.”

She won 560 games as head coach at Kansas and was a 3-time conference COY: what made her such a great coach, and what did it mean to her to receive such outstanding honors? As far as being a great coach, the numbers tell it all. Her Jayhawk teams won seven conference regular season titles/six conference tournament titles, made 15 postseason appearances, and took two trips to the Sweet 16, all of which helped Kansas women’s athletics grow significantly.

What was it like to be a great women’s coach at a school that previously had men’s basketball coaching legends such as Phog Allen? Phog was long gone by the time Marian came to KU but his reputation was still intact. However, she coached alongside men’s coaches such as Ted Owens/Larry Brown/Roy Williams/Bill Self, so she had a lot of talent to observe.

She retired in January of 2004 due to some health issues: how surprising was it for her to leave in the middle of the season, and how is she doing these days? She actually resigned with only three games left in the 2004 season. The reaction/outpouring of love for this woman was emotional, universal, and remarkably consistent with the high regard in which she was held. Former player Kathleen Hickert said, “It is a huge, huge loss. I hurt and my heart aches. My first concern is her health.” I have been unable to determine how she is doing now but saw an article where she returned to KU for a visit one year ago and she looked to be in the best of health. This month KU postponed the Marian E. Washington Legacy Reunion due to the pandemic and rescheduled it for the fall of 2021 so Marian must be doing all right.

She was 1 of the 1st African-American women to play on a US national team and coach a US international team and be a coach on a US Olympic women’s team: how is she viewed as a racial pioneer by USA Basketball? Kansas University created the Marian E. Washington Trailblazer Series to recognize the notable achievements of African-Americans who have shaped the Jayhawk sports programs. She served four years as President of the Black Coaches Association, an organization which is 98% male. Ebony Magazine named her its outstanding black woman in sports.

She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004: when people look back on her career, how do you think that she should be remembered the most? Just ask those who knew her best:
“She and a small handful of others pioneered the growth of women’s basketball.” – Coach Bill Self
“She is a great teacher, leader and role model. I think it’s an honor for us players to play for such a great coach. It’s obvious we have one of the best coaches in the nation.” – Former guard Angie Halbleib
“Her philosophy is simple: honesty, integrity and commitment. That is why she is admired by so many. She is talented, assertive and dynamic.” – Hall of Famer Lynette Woodard
“She has always said her mission is to educate young people and prepare them to be good people and good athletes, and that is truly what she has done.” – KU professor Renate Mai-Dalton