Rhode Island College

Denzel Washington begins his third season as an assistant men's basketball coach at Rhode Island College.

Washington joined Head Coach Sam Ferry's inaugural staff as an established coach and recruiter in 2023-24.
 
Washington spent the last six years at The Woodstock Academy in Connecticut. Starting in 2017 as an assistant coach, Washington was involved in nearly every aspect of running one of the premier prep school programs in New England. He assisted with developing practice plans, game plans and with scouting opponents. He spearheaded their recruitment efforts and then helped those student-athletes continue on to careers at the Division I, Division II, Division III, Junior College, and professional levels.
 
From 2019-2022, Washington served as the head coach of Woodstock Academy’s Blue Team. He oversaw a staff of assistant coaches and athletic trainers, as well as school staff to coordinate the daily operations of the program. That three-year run culminated in a Power 5 AA championship in 2021-2022. 
 
Washington’s impact extends beyond the court, as an advocate for social justice. In July of 2021, Woodstock Academy named Washington its first Director of Equity and Inclusion. Charged with developing a program to keep the school focused on the issue of equity and inclusion, Washington continues in that role today. He is also the Director of Education for the Theta Iota Lamba Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. In that role, Washington has developed education programming events and activities to increase and improve educational outcomes. He has also conduced conferences and facilitated scholarship opportunities for inner-city youth. 
 
Washington was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychological science with a minor in history from Fitchburg State in 2017. Washington is currently working on his master’s degree in leadership/management from Fitchburg State.