Football Hires Tony Washington Jr. to Guide Defensive Line
January 12, 2024 | Football
LOS ANGELES โ UCLA head football coach Chip Kelly announced Fridayย the addition of Tony Washington Jr. as defensive line coach. Washington was most recently a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Oregon, his alma mater.
A standout outside linebacker for Oregon from 2010-14, Washington suited up for the Ducks during the final three seasons of Kelly's tenure as their head coach. Washington started his coaching career in 2019 after spending parts of four years with the NFL's Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.
"It's been exciting to watch Tony develop throughout the years," said Kelly. "I can't wait to see what he does with our players."
Washington helped guide UO's defensive line in 2022 before focusing on its outside linebackers this past season. The Ducks led the Pac-12 and ranked ninth nationally for scoring defense in 2023, allowing just 16.5 points per game. The 117.61 passing efficiency put forth by opposing quarterbacks was also the conference's best mark (13th overall). For surrendering 318.4 yards per game, UO was second in the Pac-12 and 22nd in the country. The Ducks defeated previously-unbeaten Liberty 45-6 in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The 2022 squad intercepted the second most passes in the league and 10th highest total overall (16), while ranking third among Pac-12 teams and 22nd nationally in red-zone defense (.667). Washington held an off-field position in 2021, serving as the Ducks' director of player development.
Washington started his coaching career in the Big Ten Conference, spending the 2019 and 2020 campaigns as a graduate assistant at the University of Nebraska. He earned a master's degree in leadership education during his time on the Lincoln, Neb. campus.
Undrafted in 2015, Washington was picked up by the Texans and called Houston home for the next two years. He remained in the AFC South division through 2018, spending the balance of his professional career with the Titans.
Washington played in 51 games for UO, starting the final 28 of his college career. He piled up 158 total tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and three passes defended, helping the Ducks to conference championships in 2010, 2011 and 2014. UO earned a spot in the inaugural College Football National Championship after beating Florida State 59-20 in the 2015 Rose Bowl Game. Washington was voted the semifinal's defensive MVP. He also received All-Conference recognition in 2013.
A 2011 Pac-12 Conference All-Academic Team honorable mention pick, Washington majored in psychology and sociology. He is a Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. native who starred at Los Osos HS.