Jason Washington joined South Alabama as Co-Defensive Coordinator and Cornerbacks Coach in January 2025 after a five-year stint at Mississippi State in various roles.
After arriving at Mississippi State in 2020 and coaching safeties for two years, Washington switched over to the offensive side of the ball for the 2022 season and coached the team's running backs. He then moved into an off-field role to serve as the program's director of player development for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Washington helped lead the Bulldogs to three bowl games during his time in Starkville.
Washington went to Mississippi State after three seasons at Texas as the recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach. He was named the Big 12's top recruiting coach in 2018 by 247Sports. Washington's unit helped the Longhorns collect 12 interceptions during the 2019 season, and cornerback D'Shawn Jamison led the team with three pickoffs.
In 2018, both of Washington's cornerbacks earned All-Big 12 honors. Kris Boyd was first-team All-Big 12 after totaling 67 tackles with 16 pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Davante Davis was also named honorable mention All-Big 12 and recorded 42 tackles, eight pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In 2017, Washington's cornerbacks returned five interceptions for scores and tallied 54 pass breakups on the season.
Before his time with the Longhorns, Washington worked with
Major Applewhite at Houston during Applewhite's stint as head coach of the Cougars. At Houston, Washington coached cornerbacks and served as special teams coordinator. Under his leadership, William Jackson III led the nation in PBUs (23) and passed defended (28). Jackson set Houston single-game (7) and season records in passes broken up. Howard Wilson was second on the team with seven pass breakups as Houston ranked fourth nationally with 87 passes defended and seventh with 21 interceptions. The duo of Wilson and Jackson combined for four defensive touchdowns in 2015.
Washington spent seven years coaching cornerbacks at Texas State with a four-year stop as cornerbacks coach at Rice in between. Washington's secondary unit helped the Bobcats rank second in the Sun Belt in 2014 with 13 interceptions. Sophomore Germond Williams ranked 17th nationally with four interceptions in just nine games. Craig Mager, who was selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the San Diego Charges, was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game and received All-Sun Belt honors under Washington. Junior David Mims also earned All-SBC honors with five interceptions.
At Rice, Washington coached five All-Conference USA defensive backs. The Owls' best season came in 2008 when Rice went 10-3, their best record since the 1950s. Washington started his coaching career at Texas State in 2004. During his third season of his first stint with the Bobcats, Washington produced the Southland Conference leader in interceptions, Walter Musgrove. Musgrove was a two-time All-Southland Conference pick, SLC Student-Athlete of the Year, National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete and an FCS ADA Academic All-Star. Washington also coached two other All-SLC defensive backs in each of his first two seasons in San Marcos.
Washington spent a week during the 2009 season with the Minnesota Vikings as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship program that has produced NFL head coaches such as Mike Tomlin, Marvin Lewis and Lovie Smith.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Washington graduated from Texas State in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in exercise sport science. He then earned a master's degree in sport administration from Texas State in 2004. Washington and his wife, Mary Cameron, have two children, Jaxson and Jayla.
THE JASON WASHINGTON FILE
PERSONAL
Born: Sept. 16, 1979
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Education: Texas State, 2002
Wife: Mary Cameron
Children: Jaxson and Jayla
PLAYING CAREER
College: Texas State (Defensive Back)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2004-06: Texas State (Cornerbacks)
2007-10: Rice (Cornerbacks)
2011-13: Texas State (Cornerbacks)
2014: Texas State (Secondary)
2015-16: Houston (Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks)
2017-19: Texas (Recruiting Coordinator/Cornerbacks)
2020-21: Mississippi State (Safeties)
2022: Mississippi State (Running Backs)
2023-24: Mississippi State (Director of Player Development)
2025: South Alabama (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks)
