Pat Washington

Pat Washington, a 29-year collegiate coaching veteran, is wrapping up his second season at South Carolina serving as the tight ends coach.

Under Washington’s watch, Hayden Hurst went from a former walk-on to a first-team All-SEC tight end, ranking second on the squad in both receptions and yards receiving during the 2017 campaign.

In his first season in Columbia, Washington was responsible for the development of sophomore standouts Hayden Hurst and K.C. Crosby. Hurst set school tight end records with 48 receptions and 616 receiving yards, while Crosby tied for the team lead with four TD receptions.

Washington has 19 years of experience under his belt on five different SEC staffs, including an 11-year stint as wide receivers coach at Tennessee (1995-2005), which included an undefeated 1998 season and a national championship for the Volunteers. He came to South Carolina from the University of Missouri, where he has served as the Tigers’ receiving coach from 2013-15. The Tigers captured the SEC Eastern Division title and played in the SEC Championship game in both 2013 and 2014.

Under Washington’s tutelage, senior receiver Bud Sasser was named first-team All-SEC in 2014 following an outstanding season which included team-bests in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Sasser became Mizzou’s first first-team all-conference wide receiver since 2009.

Mizzou’s wideouts enjoyed a banner year in 2013 and played a critical role as the Tigers became one of the most improved offensive attacks in the nation. Leading the way was Dorial Green-Beckham, who earned second-team All-SEC honors by the Associated Press after catching 59 passes for 883 yards and 12 touchdowns — the latter of which tied for most in the SEC in 2013. Washington’s receivers solid downfield blocking also helped spring the Tiger ground game for a 3,000-yard season as part of MU’s 12-2 campaign.

Washington has enjoyed success throughout his career, as he’s coached on teams that have reached bowl games 19 times. Tennessee posted a 105-31 record during his tenure that featured 10 bowl appearances — including three Citrus Bowls, two Fiesta, Peach and Cotton Bowls, and one Orange Bowl. The Volunteers also reached the SEC Championship Game four times with Washington on staff. A win in the 1998 SEC title game vaulted UT to the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, where the Vols downed Florida State, 23-16, to cap an undefeated season and a national championship.

During his tenure at Tennessee, Washington developed several standout receivers, including Peerless Price, Donte Stallworth, Joey Kent, Marcus Nash, Robert Meachem and Cedrick Wilson, among others. Nash, Stallworth and Meachem were first-round draft picks, and all six enjoyed NFL careers.

Washington’s coaching career began at Auburn, where he served his alma mater as a graduate assistant coach from 1987-88. After the Tigers reached bowl games both years, Washington landed his first full-time position in the industry, as the receivers coach at Louisiana-Lafayette (1989-91), and that was followed by a two-year stop at TCU (1992-93) as receivers coach. He spent one year at Baylor (1994) as running backs coach, and the Bears reached the 1994 Alamo Bowl during his time there, before he left to join Tennessee the following year.

Following his time at UT, Washington coached receivers at Kansas State in 2006, helping the Wildcats to a berth in the Texas Bowl. Two of his wideouts, Jordy Nelson and Yamon Figurs, played in the NFL.

Washington returned to the SEC next, as the receivers coach at Mississippi State from 2007-08. The Bulldogs broke a six-year postseason drought during his time there, as MSU won the 2007 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. From 2009-11, Washington coached running backs at Southern Mississippi, and his backfield played an integral role in Southern Miss’ Conference USA Championship in 2011. He spent the 2012 season at Kentucky as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

A native of Mobile, Ala., Washington played quarterback at Auburn from 1982-85. He was the starter in his final two seasons, and guided the Tigers to a combined 17-8 record in those years and to 1984 Liberty Bowl and 1986 Cotton Bowl appearances.

Washington earned a management degree from Auburn in 1987. He and his wife, Claudette, are the parents of sons Tyson and Justin.