KU Jayhawks legend Marian E. Washington shares multitude of stories in book, ‘FIERCE’

One of the most influential figures in the history of University of Kansas athletics — who referred to herself as “a private person” during three-plus decades at KU — has decided to tell her story in a much-awaited book that celebrated its release Tuesday. Marian E. Washington, the individual most responsible for the founding of, and building of, the entire women’s athletic program at KU, is author of the 303-page “FIERCE: My Fight for Nothing Less.

” Washington, 77, who led her “Lady Jayhawks” to a 560-363 record, including 11 NCAA Tournament and two Sweet 16 appearances in 31 seasons as women’s basketball coach at KU (1973 to 2004), perhaps more importantly is recognized as the one most responsible for the blossoming of women’s sports at KU. She was KU’s first women’s AD, serving in that role from 1973-78, when the women’s and men’s athletic departments merged. The “fight” referred to in the book title refers to her relentless pursuit of putting women’s sports on the map at KU — with limited funds available in the athletic department despite the arrival of Title IX in 1974.

Washington instituted women’s track and field at KU and, in fact, served as the school’s first women’s track coach at the same time she coached women’s basketball and ran the entire women’s athletic department. She hired coaches for several women’s sports, yearly stating the case for budget increases in women’s sports that ultimately led to the building .