Rooted & Rising: Excellence as the Standard

Originally Published on collegiateconferenceofthesouth.com

This feature is part of our series called Rooted & Rising. This storytelling campaign is centered on celebrating the unique heritage, lived experiences, and paths that have shaped leaders around the CCS, recognizing that our conference is strengthened by individuals who come from different backgrounds, communities, and walks of life.
 
Before there was a title.

Before there was a position.

There were women who showed Maryville's Senior Associate Athletic Director Brittney Washington what was possible.

"I've been incredibly blessed to have amazing mentors, both women and people of color, who have shaped my personal life and continued to influence my professional journey," she shares.

Some mentorship stories begin in adulthood. Hers began much earlier.

LaCheryl Smith Coleman, Head of Schools at Legacy Early College, and Jackie Smith Carson, Senior Vice President at the Atlantic Coast Conference, have known her since she was young.

She didn't just hear about their success — she saw it up close.

"From an early age, I not only witnessed their success but was able to experience it alongside them," she says. "They poured into me — investing their time, energy, belief, and most importantly, their faith."

That investment changed everything.

"Without question, their mentorship and the connections they provided are a major reason I am where I am today."

More than access, they gave her perspective. More than encouragement, they modeled expectation.

"They have held and continue to hold positions that people who look like us don't often occupy," she reflects. "Because of them, excellence was never the exception — it was the standard."

That standard followed her into every room she entered.

As a Black professional in college athletics, her leadership is rooted in something both simple and profound: care.

"The impact is simple: at the end of the day, my student-athletes know that I love them and will always advocate for them — with a little tough love when needed."

Her student-athletes understand that her expectations come from belief. That her voice in a room is anchored in advocacy. And her colleagues know her as someone who carries passion into every space.

"My colleagues and campus community know that I'm passionate about my work and that I genuinely enjoy what I do," she says. "It's truly a blessing to be in this profession for a living."

When asked what advice she would give to Black students and young professionals hoping to enter college athletics, her message is clear.

"Be yourself, be authentic, and be passionate."

But she doesn't stop there.

"Understand that your name, your reputation, your work ethic, and the way you treat people often enter rooms long before you do."

Character, she reminds us, travels.

"Consistency speaks. How you show up — especially when no one is watching — matters more than you think."

In a profession often defined by visibility, she emphasizes what happens behind the scenes. The small tasks. The unseen preparation. The quiet integrity that builds trust over time.

"Commit to excellence in the small things, because they shape the big opportunities. Lead with integrity, extend grace, and stay ready so you don't have to get ready."

And then comes the charge: "Wherever life takes you, make it a priority to leave places better than you found them."

Her story is one of lineage — not just by blood, but by mentorship. It is a story of women who opened doors and expected excellence. Of leadership that blends love and accountability. Of gratitude woven into ambition.

She walks into rooms carrying a standard set long before she ever realized she would need it.

And now, through her presence, her advocacy, and her character, she is quietly setting that same standard for someone else.

Rooted in mentorship. Rising in purpose. And leaving every space better than she found it.