Eric Washington Position: Defensive Line Coach Birthdate: 10/29/1969 Experience: Fourth Year

Eric Washington spent four seasons as the Wildcats' defensive line coach. Prior to coming to Evanston, Washington served as an assistant coach at Ohio University (2001-03).

He left the program in January 2008 to take an assistant position with the NFL's Chicago Bears.

In 2007, one of Washington's players, defensive tackle John Gill, earned consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.

In 2006, Washington tutored honorable mention All-Big Ten defensive end Corey Wootton. Wootton also garnered Freshman All-America honors from the Scripps Football Writers Association of America and was named to the Sporting News' Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Defensive tackle Adam Hahn also was named to the Sporting News Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

In 2005, Washington coached second-team All-Big Ten tackle and current New York Giant Barry Cofield. Cofield started 17 games for the Giants as a rookie. In 2004, Washington mentored second-team All-Big Ten tackle Luis Castillo, a 2005 first-round NFL Draft pick of the San Diego Chargers.

While at Ohio, Washington served as the Bobcats' defensive line coach and also coached the Bobcats' kickoff cover team. He joined the Bobcats on Jan. 10, 2001, after spending three years as defensive coordinator at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I.

Washington began his college coaching career at Texas A&M University as a graduate assistant in 1997. That team went on to capture the Big XII South Division title and accept an invitation to the 1998 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.

Washington has worked at four high schools during his career: at Amon Carter-Riverside High School in Fort Worth, Texas, Westmont (Ill.) High School, Captain Shreve High School (Shreveport, La.) and Ruston (La.) High School.

In 2004, Washington served as a coaching intern with the Atlanta Falcons, assisting the linebackers during summer training camp. In 2005, he performed a similar internship with the Chicago Bears, assisting the defensive line.

A native of Shreveport, La., Washington earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Grambling State University in 1993. He played football there for legendary head coach Eddie Robinson.

Washington was commissioned as a Naval Reserve Officer in April 1998 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Before separating from active duty naval service in March 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade on April 7, 2000.

Washington and his wife, Amy, reside in Glenview, Ill.