Washington Joins Michigan's Defensive Coaching Staff
1/5/2018 3:00:00 PM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh announced Friday (Jan. 5) the hiring of Al Washington to the defensive coaching staff. Washington will work with the specialized package players in Don Brown's defensive system and handle a yet to be finalized position group.
Washington, who has experience coaching on both sides of the ball and on special teams, comes to Ann Arbor after spending the 2017 season as the defensive line coach at the University of Cincinnati.
Prior to his one-year stint at Cincinnati, Washington coached at his alma mater, Boston College, for five seasons where he worked with then-defensive coordinator Brown. He began his tenure as the assistant special teams coach and assistant defensive line coach during the 2012 season.
Washington coached the running backs for three seasons (2013-15) before taking over as the program's special teams coordinator and defensive line coach during the 2016 season, his final year at Boston College.
The Eagles' special teams unit ranked 12th in the nation and third in the ACC in punt returns (12.35 avg.), third in the ACC in kickoff return defense (18.44 avg.) and sixth in the league in kickoff returns (22.77 avg.). Return man Tyler Rouse, in his first year returning punts, finished seventh in the FBS rankings and third in the ACC, averaging 13.04 yards per run back.
BC was one of the nation's top defenses in 2016, ranking ninth nationally and second in the ACC in total defense. The Eagles listed among college football's best units, ranking second in sacks, sixth in tackles for loss and seventh in rushing defense. Washington coached defensive end Harold Landry, an All-American and Ted Hendricks Trophy finalist, who led the nation in sacks and forced fumbles.
Washington mentored 2013 Heisman Trophy finalist and the Atlantic Coast Conference's first Doak Walker Award recipient in running back Andre Williams, who became the 16th player in FBS history to rush for 2,000 yards during the regular season.
During his time working with the running backs, the Eagles attack improved each season. BC averaged 212.5 yards per game in 2013 and improved to 254.7 yards per contest in 2014. The team's 3,311 rushing yards in 2014 broke the school's season rushing record. He helped the program advance to the 2013 AdvoCare v100 Independence Bowl and the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl both of those seasons.
Washington came to BC after coaching the linebackers at Elon University during the 2011 season. While at Elon, he coached All-America and All-SoCon selection Joshua Jones as well as freshman All-American Jonathan Spain.
He spent two seasons as defensive line coach at Slippery Rock University (2009-10), working with All-PSAC Conference defensive ends Pat Marsilio and Jeff Thompson. Washington was a defensive graduate assistant coach at North Carolina State (2008) and began his coaching career as defensive line coach at Division III Rensselaer Polytechnic Institution (RPI) during the 2007 season. He helped RPI to an 8-2 record, a Liberty League championship and berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
As a collegiate player, Washington was a three-year starter and four-year letterman at defensive tackle for the Boston College Eagles (2002-05). He received the team's Paul Cavanaugh Award in 2006, given to the player whose on and off field accomplishments speaks volumes about his commitment, outlook, volunteer work, ethics and work in the community and on the team. Washington also earned the Eagles' Leadership Award in 2005.
A Columbus, Ohio, native, Washington earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from Boston College in 2006. He signed the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders and played one season for the Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
THE WASHINGTON FILE
Birthday: April 22, 1984
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
High School: Watterson
College: Boston College (Sociology, 2006)
Wife: Melissa
Child: Michael
Coaching Career
2007 - RPI, Defensive Line
2008 - North Carolina State, Graduate Assistant (Defense)
2009-10 - Slippery Rock University, Defensive Line
2011 – Elon University, Linebackers
2012 - Boston College, Asst. Special Teams/Asst. Defensive Line
2013-15 - Boston College, Running Backs
2016 - Boston College, Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Line
2017 - Cincinnati, Defensive Line
