By: Josh Silverman Follow @JoshMSilverman
Just one year after transferring from Penn State, Quinnipiac men’s basketball graduate student and guard Isaiah Washington has accepted a job with Merrill Lynch and will forgo his last year of NCAA eligibility.
“Right now I am a part of the financial advisor development program which is a part of Merrill Lynch,” Washington said. “Currently, they are taking me through the steps of becoming a financial advisor.”
Washington’s new job is located in his hometown of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The former Quinnipiac guard, 22, is married, which is something he had to consider when weighing his options.
“That definitely played into it,” Washington said. “I just knew that I didn’t really want to seek playing professionally either overseas or anything like that. I mean I’m not going to the NBA. I’m already married and her having the opportunity to get a job back home too added to it.”
After averaging over 33 minutes and eight points per game this season, Washington had to make a decision: take the job to build for his future or finish his college basketball career.
(Photo Courtesy: Liz Flynn/Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network)
At a time when Washington needed some clarity in his life, he had his head coach Baker Dunleavy to turn to.
“I kind of just came to (coach Dunleavy and his staff) and told them I don’t know what to do. Help me here as a mentor. What do you think makes sense?” Washington explained. “We sat down and we talked about it and they really wanted what was in my best interest. He promised me when he was recruiting me that he would look out for my life after basketball.”
“When I came to him and asked him what I should do he just said that he didn’t feel comfortable telling me to do something that wasn’t in my best interest. In other words, he made full on his promise. He said this was a good opportunity for my life after basketball and that it trumped any of his own personal agenda,” he said.
It took courage for a player like Washington to take a job rather than return for his final year of playing college ball. Proof that the coaching staff not only coaches players on the court, but off it too.
The job was too perfect for Washington to pass up. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“If everything didn’t come together the way it did I would be playing for Quinnipiac in the fall for sure,” Washington said. “It was actually a very hard decision for me because of how much I wanted to continue to play. I felt that coming to Quinnipiac I got to play more, I got to fulfill a better role and I think that’s what I was looking for when I was transferring. To have to give that up early was obviously a hard decision.”
(Photo Courtesy: Liz Flynn/Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network)
In his first year as head coach and with a roster full of mainly inexperienced players, Dunleavy had Washington to turn to. In a parting moment, he could simply reflect.
“Isaiah has been a leader by example from the moment he stepped on campus,” Dunleavy said. “His selflessness, consistent effort and mature outlook were instrumental in us improving throughout last season. We are proud of his contributions to our basketball program and university, and he will continue to make us proud with his MBA in the professional world.”
Washington echoed his coaches’ sentiment.
“When I look back I’ve learned so much from coach Dunleavy and the staff,” Washington said. “Coach Dunleavy’s preparation is unprecedented and unmatched. The way he approaches the game and approaches his job is inspirational to watch. It sounds cliché but it’s the real deal.”
Quinnipiac will return a core group of players that, last season, helped the school win its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference postseason tournament game in four years. The 2018-2019 Bobcats men’s basketball schedule has yet to be released.
