Youth Is Served: Polytechnic's Washington Becomes Youngest Coach in Nation
Joshua Washington, a 24-year-old former assistant on the Polytechnic Institute of New York University women’s basketball team, has been named the head coach of the Downtown Brooklyn school’s men’s squad, making him the youngest active coach in the nation.
Washington, who helped the Blue Jays capture the 2004 Hudson Valley Championship during his playing days (2003-07), took over for coach Dan Nigro, who resigned this summer after leading Polytechnic to a 12-38 mark over the past two seasons.
“When I became the men’s basketball coach, I was excited for the opportunity to coach at NYU-Poly because it is a place that has given me so much; this is my opportunity to give back,” Washington said on the team’s web site engineering.nyu.edu/life/athletics/mens-sport/basketball.
The Lady Jays nearly made the Skyline Conference Tournament last season with Washington working along side women’s head coach James Barnett.
With NYU-Poly graduates Emir Hot, Chris Jean, William Modeste Jr., and Mike Williams on his staff, Washington hopes to lead the Jays back into contention for the HVC title — a crown Polytechnic captured in both 2003 and 2004.
Arjun Ohri is expected to be Washington’s top returning player after averaging a team-high 23 points per game as a sophomore last season.
