COLUMBIA, S.C. — Longtime Benedict College Director of Athletics Willie Washington will be enshrined in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame on July 10 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, in conjunction with the SIAC Football Media Day.
Washington has guided Benedict College athletics for the last 36 years, and during his first 10 years at the school, he also served as the head men's basketball coach
During his tenure, Benedict College has won the prestigious SIAC Commissioner's Cup, presented to the top athletic men's and women's program in the conference, more than any other school in the league. Benedict College swept both the men's and women's trophies four times in school history. All told, Benedict has won 10 of the 18 trophies since the inception of the Commissioner's Cup award in 2014, including winning the men's trophy for the 2023-24 school year.
Washington has led an expansion of Tiger athletics from eight to 14 sports, including the return of football. Washington also led Benedict's return to the SIAC after years of success in the NAIA's Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He was named the NAIA Southeast Region Athletic Director of the Year in 1999.
During his time at Benedict, Tiger athletics has captured 50 SIAC championships—eight in women's basketball, six in women's track and field, six in men's tennis, five in men's basketball, five in men's cross country, five in women's tennis, four in men's track and field, four in cheerleading, three in women's cross country, two in football, one in softball, and one in men's golf.
Washington is also a member of the Allen University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame, and the EIAC Hall of Fame. He was the head men's basketball coach and athletics director at Allen University for 12 years before coming to Benedict in 1988 in the same capacity.