SoCalHoops College Coaching

Former OSU Assistant Leroy Washington
Joins Wyoming Staff-(Apr. 29, 2000)

Guys who spend a lot of time at recruiting events in SoCal over the years have come to know and enjoy the company of many of the coaches who make it their business to recruit players for colleges.  One such coach we've gotten to know over the years is Leroy Washington, who has been a fixture at many of the SoCal-based tournaments, camps and spring leagues.   Leroy, a Long Beach Poly Jackrabbit alumni,  has been in coaching for just about as long as anyone can remember, first as a graduate assistant at Long Beach State, then at Montana, then Cal Poly Pomona, and most recently with Eddie Payne at Oregon State. 

We bumped into Leroy at the Rockfish Spring League recently, and he informed us that he's now at the University of Wyoming, where he's joined Steve McClain's staff.  We want to extend our congratulations to both Leroy and to Wyoming on what we're sure will be a successful relationship.

While the press release is a couple of weeks old, we thought we'd share it anyway, since it's always nice to see one of our SoCal guys land on his feet after what was an "interesting"  personnel decision at OSU a few months ago when Payne and his entire staff were let go. In any event, enough of the post-mortems; here's the release: 

Leroy Washington, an assistant at Oregon State University, has joined Steve McClain's staff at Wyoming, the Cowboy head coach announced Friday.  

Washington, whose appointment is subject to University Trustee approval, replaces Steve Roccaforte who resigned to accept an assistant's position at Memphis State University. 

"Leroy is a great addition to our staff," McClain said. "He brings a tremendous amount of experience to the position. I have watched him closely through the years and have a great deal of respect for him. I really like the fact that he is familar with this part of the country having gone to school at Montana. We feel very fortunate to have him in our program." 

Washington, 37 (born Oct. 28, 1963), is a native of Long Beach, Calif. He earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education from the University of Montana in 1988. He played basketball at Montana where he lettered all four years (1982-85). He played in 98 career games and was the recipient of the team's John Eaheart Award as the program's top defensive player. 

Washington came to Oregon State from Montana where he was an assistant coach for five seasons. During his five years there the Grizzlies posted a record of 104-41, averaging 21 victories per season. Montana appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 1992, the NIT in 1995, and earned two Big Sky Conference titles. 

"I understand the basketball tradition of this school especially with coaches like Jim Brandenburg who, like myself, coached at Montana. It's nice to get back to this area of the country. There is a great committment to men's basketball here at this school. I also believe that this is a program on the rise, and it's great to be a part of it." 

Washington also has been an assistant at Cal Poly-Pomona from 1989 through 1991, a graduate assistant at Montana (1986-89), and a graduate assistant at Long Beach State (1985). 

Washington and his wife, Heidi, have two sons Mychael and Jayson. 

McClain said he also is searching for assistant to replace Vonn Webb who resigned to pursue other coaching opportunities. Webb was with the Wyoming program for one season.

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