Jay Washington, UPBasketball’s Newest Player Development Coach
3.5 Minute read
By Andrea Aruino
UPBasketball welcomes its newest Player Development Coach, Jay Washington, who brings years of experience and knowledge to those who enter the gym. Washington began his career as a player, but throughout his journey, he discovered a passion for helping others grow through the game of basketball. Now, after more than 15 years of coaching athletes across all levels, Washington joins UPBasketball with a commitment to developing players both on and off the court.
Basketball has been a part of Washington’s life since he was four years old. Growing up in Oakland before moving to Antioch, he developed his foundation as a point guard. After graduating from Antioch High School, Washington continued his career at the collegiate level, competing at Simpson University from 2006-2008 before transferring to Jessup University in 2009. During his time at Jessup, he became an All-Conference player, earned Defensive Player of the Year honors twice, and led the conference in assists and steals for three of his four seasons.
Following his collegiate career, Washington continued playing at the professional level overseas, competing for multiple teams across England and Australia. His first international opportunity came with Team Northumbria in England, where he gained valuable experience adjusting to a new basketball culture and life in another country. He later continued his career in Australia, playing for teams including the South West Metro Pirates, Toowoomba Mountaineers, South West Slammers, and Lismore Storm. Among those experiences, Washington credits his time with the South West Metro Pirates as one of his favorites, allowing him to become more immersed in the community while continuing to coach and train players on the side.
While Washington’s playing career took him across different levels of basketball, those experiences ultimately shaped the coach he is today. Through years of competing, he learned valuable lessons about handling adversity, building relationships, and continuing to improve regardless of the circumstances.
“Being able to train and coach allows me to help the next generation in learning those life skills and develop them on and off the court, and I think that’s really big. So it’s just about using basketball as a vehicle to be able to mentor and develop players. Every session I want them to end it better than they came in” Washington said.
Beyond skill development, Washington emphasizes the importance of relationships between coaches and athletes. For him, trust is the foundation that allows players to accept feedback, embrace accountability, and continue growing.
“They have to know you care, and then from there, they’re able to trust you more, you know, understand that, you know, you have their best interests in mind,” Washington said.
Washington’s arrival at UPBasketball marks a full-circle moment. After competing against Coach Packie Turner during their college careers, Washington continued following the work being done at UPB and admired the organization’s commitment to player development and community.
Since joining, Washington has worked with athletes across different age groups and skill levels, assisting with individual training and group sessions. Surrounded by coaches and players who share the same commitment to improvement, Washington is excited to continue growing within the UPB community while helping athletes reach their full potential.
Alongside his role at UPBasketball, Washington continues to coach as an Assistant Coach at College of San Mateo and Peninsula Gold AAU. Whether he is working with a young athlete learning the fundamentals or helping a player prepare for the next level, his mission remains the same which is to develop basketball players into well rounded individuals on and off the court.
