TicketsAl Washington came to the University of Cincinnati in January 2017 as the defensive line coach.
The 10-year coaching vet spent the past five seasons at his alma mater, Boston College, where he coached defensive line, running backs and special teams. Washington was the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach in 2016 after mentoring the running backs from 2013-15 and serving as the assistant defensive line and special teams coach in 2012.
Boston College ranked as one of the nation's top defenses, finishing the regular season ranked ninth in the nation and second in the ACC in total defense allowing just 314.2 yards per game. BC allowed just 108.5 rushing yards per game in the regular season, seventh-best nationally and first in the conference. BC is also among the top-20 defenses nationally in sacks (second, 3.62 per game) and tackles-for-loss (sixth, 8.2 per game).
Washington coached defensive end Harold Landry, an All-American who led the nation with 16.5 sacks in 2016. He also led the country with seven forced fumbles as well en route to Walter Camp and Associated Press All-America honors.
Landry finished 2016 with one of the best seasons of any defensive player in the FBS. An AP All-ACC first-team selection, Landry was also selected as the Division I Gold Helmet of the Year Award recipient, given annually to the top player in New England by the New England Football Writers' Association and the recipient of the 78th annual George "Bulger" Lowe Award, "New England's Heisman Trophy" and one of America's oldest college football accolades. Landry, who collected All-ACC second-team honors by the media and coaches, was one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive end.
The Eagles’ special teams unit ranked 12th in the nation and third in the ACC in punt returns (12.35 ypr), third in the ACC in kickoff return defense (18.44 ypr) and sixth in the league in kickoff returns (22.77 ypr). 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.
Washington helped develop 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 Football Bowl Subdivision history to rush for 2,000 yards in the regular season and who established four of the top five single-game rushing records in school history in 2013.
He coached a running backs corps that contributed to an Eagle rushing attack that averaged 212.5 yards per game in 2013, a mark good for second in the ACC and 20th among all teams in college football; the average was a 121.5-yard spike from the previous season’s average, marking the largest one-year improvement in ACC history.
The running backs to improve the rushing average to 254.7 yards per game, second in the conference and 14th in the nation; the yardage total of 3,311 broke BC’s single-season record total.
Washington mentored freshman running back Jon Hilliman, who led the Eagles with 13 rushing touchdowns, set the BC freshman record with 210 carries, finished second on the team with 860 yards and earned All-ACC Third-Team honors and ECAC Co-Rookie of the Year accolades.
He was instrumental to a program that achieved back-to-back seven-win seasons in 2013 and 2014 and advanced to the 2013 AdvoCare v100 Independence Bowl and the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl on the heels of a 2-10 campaign in 2012; the five-win improvement from 2012 to 2013 tied for fourth-best in the FBS.
Washington returned to Boston College after serving as linebackers coach at Elon University for one season (2011) under the direction of head coach Jason Swepson. Swepson is a 1992 BC graduate who served as running backs coach at his alma mater for eight seasons (1999-2006).
At Elon he worked with a talented group of linebackers that included 2011 All-American and All-SoCon selection Joshua Jones as well as SoCon All-Freshman Team member Jonathan Spain. Linebacker Jonathan Spain also collected freshman All-America accolades.
Prior to his time at Elon, Washington spent the previous two seasons as the defensive line coach at Slippery Rock University which won 12 games in that span, including a pair of wins against top-25 foes. Coached all-PSAC conference defensive ends Pat Marsilio and Jeff Thomspon.
Before heading to Elon, he served as NC State’s defensive graduate assistant in 2008.
He broke into coaching at Division III’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 2007. Washington helped lead RPI to an 8-2 record, a Liberty League championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs; was a member of the 2007 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year.
Washington was a three-year starter at defensive tackle and four-year lettermen at Boston College from 2002-05. He earned BC’s Paul Cavanaugh Award in 2006, given annually to the player whose on and off the field accomplishments speak volumes about his commitment to the Eagles.
Washington, a native of Columbus, Ohio, his wife Melissa and son Michael Anthony live in Cincinnati.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: April 22, 1984
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Wife: Melissa
Child: Michael Anthony
Education: Boston College (2006, B.A.)
Year in Coaching: 11th
PLAYING CAREER
2002-05: Boston College (Defensive Tackle)
COACHING CAREER
YEAR: SCHOOL - POSITION
2007: RPI - Defensive Line
2008: NC State - Graduate Assistant
2009-10: Slippery Rock Univ. - Defensive Line
2011: Elon - 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
BOWLS COACHED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL - BOWL
2008: NC State - PapaJohns.com
2013: Boston College - Independence
2014: Boston College - Pinstripe
2016: Boston College - Quick Lane
BOWLS PLAYED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL - BOWL
2002: Boston College - Motor City
2003: Boston College - San Francisco
2004: Boston College - Continental Tire
2005: Boston College - MPC Computers
The 10-year coaching vet spent the past five seasons at his alma mater, Boston College, where he coached defensive line, running backs and special teams. Washington was the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach in 2016 after mentoring the running backs from 2013-15 and serving as the assistant defensive line and special teams coach in 2012.
Boston College ranked as one of the nation's top defenses, finishing the regular season ranked ninth in the nation and second in the ACC in total defense allowing just 314.2 yards per game. BC allowed just 108.5 rushing yards per game in the regular season, seventh-best nationally and first in the conference. BC is also among the top-20 defenses nationally in sacks (second, 3.62 per game) and tackles-for-loss (sixth, 8.2 per game).
Washington coached defensive end Harold Landry, an All-American who led the nation with 16.5 sacks in 2016. He also led the country with seven forced fumbles as well en route to Walter Camp and Associated Press All-America honors.
Landry finished 2016 with one of the best seasons of any defensive player in the FBS. An AP All-ACC first-team selection, Landry was also selected as the Division I Gold Helmet of the Year Award recipient, given annually to the top player in New England by the New England Football Writers' Association and the recipient of the 78th annual George "Bulger" Lowe Award, "New England's Heisman Trophy" and one of America's oldest college football accolades. Landry, who collected All-ACC second-team honors by the media and coaches, was one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive end.
The Eagles’ special teams unit ranked 12th in the nation and third in the ACC in punt returns (12.35 ypr), third in the ACC in kickoff return defense (18.44 ypr) and sixth in the league in kickoff returns (22.77 ypr). 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.
Washington helped develop 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 Football Bowl Subdivision history to rush for 2,000 yards in the regular season and who established four of the top five single-game rushing records in school history in 2013.
He coached a running backs corps that contributed to an Eagle rushing attack that averaged 212.5 yards per game in 2013, a mark good for second in the ACC and 20th among all teams in college football; the average was a 121.5-yard spike from the previous season’s average, marking the largest one-year improvement in ACC history.
The running backs to improve the rushing average to 254.7 yards per game, second in the conference and 14th in the nation; the yardage total of 3,311 broke BC’s single-season record total.
Washington mentored freshman running back Jon Hilliman, who led the Eagles with 13 rushing touchdowns, set the BC freshman record with 210 carries, finished second on the team with 860 yards and earned All-ACC Third-Team honors and ECAC Co-Rookie of the Year accolades.
He was instrumental to a program that achieved back-to-back seven-win seasons in 2013 and 2014 and advanced to the 2013 AdvoCare v100 Independence Bowl and the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl on the heels of a 2-10 campaign in 2012; the five-win improvement from 2012 to 2013 tied for fourth-best in the FBS.
Washington returned to Boston College after serving as linebackers coach at Elon University for one season (2011) under the direction of head coach Jason Swepson. Swepson is a 1992 BC graduate who served as running backs coach at his alma mater for eight seasons (1999-2006).
At Elon he worked with a talented group of linebackers that included 2011 All-American and All-SoCon selection Joshua Jones as well as SoCon All-Freshman Team member Jonathan Spain. Linebacker Jonathan Spain also collected freshman All-America accolades.
Prior to his time at Elon, Washington spent the previous two seasons as the defensive line coach at Slippery Rock University which won 12 games in that span, including a pair of wins against top-25 foes. Coached all-PSAC conference defensive ends Pat Marsilio and Jeff Thomspon.
Before heading to Elon, he served as NC State’s defensive graduate assistant in 2008.
He broke into coaching at Division III’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 2007. Washington helped lead RPI to an 8-2 record, a Liberty League championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs; was a member of the 2007 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year.
Washington was a three-year starter at defensive tackle and four-year lettermen at Boston College from 2002-05. He earned BC’s Paul Cavanaugh Award in 2006, given annually to the player whose on and off the field accomplishments speak volumes about his commitment to the Eagles.
Washington, a native of Columbus, Ohio, his wife Melissa and son Michael Anthony live in Cincinnati.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: April 22, 1984
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Wife: Melissa
Child: Michael Anthony
Education: Boston College (2006, B.A.)
Year in Coaching: 11th
PLAYING CAREER
2002-05: Boston College (Defensive Tackle)
COACHING CAREER
YEAR: SCHOOL - POSITION
2007: RPI - Defensive Line
2008: NC State - Graduate Assistant
2009-10: Slippery Rock Univ. - Defensive Line
2011: Elon - 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
BOWLS COACHED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL - BOWL
2008: NC State - PapaJohns.com
2013: Boston College - Independence
2014: Boston College - Pinstripe
2016: Boston College - Quick Lane
BOWLS PLAYED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL - BOWL
2002: Boston College - Motor City
2003: Boston College - San Francisco
2004: Boston College - Continental Tire
2005: Boston College - MPC Computers