Joe Washington left an indelible impression during his playing days at Oklahoma. He’s going to try to leave another one for the school off the field.

Thursday, OU announced the former three-time All-American running back and College Football Hall of Fame member will return to Norman to serve as special assistant to OU athletic director Joe Castiglione and executive director of the Varsity “O” Association.

“The addition of Joe to our staff further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to strengthen the connection to our former student-athletes,” Castiglione said. “He is a dynamic man with uncommon perspective. The respect and popularity he enjoys are immense and he will bring to our staff the creativity, communications skills and passion that have made him such a wonderful success.”

The position was created specifically for Washington and is part of effort to reach out to former OU student-athletes.

“I enjoyed a lot of success in my first go-around there,” Washington said. “There is a song I heard lately that says the second time around can be even better, and I believe that. This time, instead of having the OU on my helmet, Ill have it on my business card. I am very excited and very humbled to be coming back.”

Washington, who played at OU from 1972-75, has enjoyed a successful business career since retiring from the NFL in 1985.

He has worked for companies bearing his name since 1986 when he opened Washington Consultants and Advertising, now known as Washington Financial Consultants.

He and NBA Hall-of-Famer Julius Erving broke the color barrier of NASCAR’s Busch Grand National Series in 1997, starting Washington Erving Motor Sports.

Washington has also been involved in community service as chairman of the Ann Arundel County Association for Retarded Citizens, as well as involved with the Maryland Special Olympics. He is also spokesman for the Oklahoma Society to Prevent Blindness and has been on the advisory board for Wednesdays Child, an organization dedicated to orphaned children in Oklahoma City.

“Joe, everyone respects him as a person and what he’s done and the player he was,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “He’s remained in contact with so many guys. I think this is going to be great.”

Washington will assume his new job in May, but shouldn’t have much of a problem with introductions. He is the school’s second-leading rusher with 4,071 yards and played on the Sooners’ national championship teams in 1974 and 1975.

“I met a lot of my latter ‘family’ there,” Washington said. “When you put in that kind of hard work and time with other people, that’s what you become — family.”

The “O” Club was founded in 1925 as the Letterman's Club. From the beginning, the organization has been a service-oriented extension of the OU Athletics Department, serving the various needs of student-athletes.

Castiglione believes having someone of Washington’s stature involved will help the “O” Club flourish in the coming years.

“We are once again placing a ball in the hands of Joe Washington,” Castiglione said. “Like many times before, we believe he will make some very special things happen.”