Jamie Dixon
Encyclopedia
Jamie Dixon is an American
basketball
head coach
. He has served as the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh
men's basketball team
since 2003. In 2009 he was the head coach for the FIBA Under-19 2009
gold-medal winning United States national basketball team for which he was named the 2009 USA Basketball
National Coach of the Year. Dixon was named Big East Coach of the Year in 2004, Naismith College Coach of the Year
in 2009, Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year
in 2010, and the Sporting News National Coach of the Year award in 2011. Dixon played college basketball
at Texas Christian University
, was selected by the Washington Bullets
in the 1987 NBA Draft
, and played professionally with the Continental Basketball Association
's Lacrosse Catbirds and for Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand
National Basketball League
.
, a secondary school
in New Zealand
, before serving as an assistant at Los Angeles Valley College
from 1989-1991. He then became an assistant coach at UC-Santa Barbara
and then at the University of Hawaii
. Dixon then became an assistant coach to Ben Howland
at Northern Arizona University
and later moved to Pittsburgh as part of Howland's staff when Howland accepted the Pitt head coaching job in 1999. Dixon was promoted as Pittsburgh's head coach when Howland left for UCLA following the 2002–03 season.
at Pitt in 2003, the only head coaching position he has ever held, and has an overall NCAA Division I record of 216–60. He won 188 games in his first seven seasons, tying the NCAA Division I record for most wins in the first seven seasons of a head coaching career. Previously, Dixon's 162nd win, which came in the 2009 NCAA Tournament over Oklahoma State
, broke the NCAA Division I record for most victories in the first six seasons as a head coach formerly held by former North Carolina State coach Everett Case
. He was awarded the Naismith College Coach of the Year
honors following the 2008-09 season.
Dixon won Big East Coach of the Year honors in 2004 for leading Pitt to the Big East regular season championship. He took Pitt to the final game of the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008, winning the 2008 Big East Tournament Championship against No.1 seed Georgetown. He is Pitt's first and only head coach to guide the Panthers to seven consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and seven consecutive seasons of at least 20 overall wins and 10 league wins. In the NCAA tournament, Dixon led Pitt to the Sweet Sixteen in 2004 and 2007 and to the Elite Eight in 2009, a year that saw his Panthers earn their first-ever No.1 rankings in the AP Poll
and Coaches' Poll, their first-ever victories over a No.1 ranked team (UConn, twice), and their first ever No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament (East Region).
His success at Pitt continued through the 2010 season, perhaps his best coaching performance to date. The Panthers tied for second place in the Big East and earned a No.2 seed in the Big East Tournament, despite being picked to finish 9th in the conference preseason poll. Dixon guided Pitt to yet another NCAA Tournament appearance, their seventh in his first seven years as head coach, and was awarded both the Big East Coach of the Year and Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year
Awards by CollegeInsider.com. He is the first and only head coach in Pitt's history to lead his team to seven consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. At the end of the 2010 season, Dixon is the winningest coach in Big East history with a current .721 winning percentage in eight seasons of league games (98-38). He also stands second on Pitt's all-time wins list, behind only the legendary Doc Carlson.
On March 31, 2010, Pitt extended Dixon's contract by two years, which will make him Pitt's head coach through the 2017-18 season.
On April 2, 2010, Dixon was named the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year by CollegeInsider.com.
On October 23, 2010, Dixon received national attention when he assisted in removing victims from a severe car accident in a Pittsburgh suburb.
On December 22, 2010, Dixon won his 200th game with a 61-46 win over American
. With the victory, Dixon tied the all-time NCAA Division I record held by Mark Few
and Roy Williams
for the fastest coach to earn 200 wins by achieving the mark in only eight seasons. The achievement of winning his first 200 out of 255 games also ranked Dixon among the all-time top-15 for the quickest coaches to achieve 200 victories in regards to total number of games played.
On March 2, 2011, Dixon won his 214th game with a 66-50 win over South Florida
. With the victory, Dixon broke the all-time NCAA record for the most wins in a coach's first eight seasons. Following the regular season, the Panthers received a Number 1 seed in the Southeast Region of the NCAA tournament, where the Panthers defeated 16th seed UNC Asheville. They were upset in the third round by Butler University
.
Dixon was named the 2010-11 Sporting News National Coach of the Year.
Outside of basketball, Dixon has been credited with a peripheral role in the Big East's decision to invite TCU
to become the conference's 17th member. Specifically, he suggested to TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte that the school pursue Big East membership during a conversation at the 2010 TCU
–Baylor
football game.
in 18 years in the 2009
FIBA Under-19 World Championship
held in Auckland
, New Zealand
. For this accomplishment, Dixon was later named USA Basketball Coach of the Year.
. He starred in various commercials as a child and into his early twenties, including ads for Volvo
, Rice Krispies
, Mattel
and Bud Light.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. He has served as the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
men's basketball team
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games in...
since 2003. In 2009 he was the head coach for the FIBA Under-19 2009
FIBA Under-19 World Championship 2009
The 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship was an international basketball competition held in Auckland, New Zealand from July 2, 2009 until July 12.-Qualification:*FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship 2008*#*#*FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship 2008*#*#*#...
gold-medal winning United States national basketball team for which he was named the 2009 USA Basketball
USA Basketball
USA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in the United States. The organization represents the United States in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the United States Olympic Committee...
National Coach of the Year. Dixon was named Big East Coach of the Year in 2004, Naismith College Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
in 2009, Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year
Jim Phelan Award
The Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's college basketball head coach in NCAA Division I competition...
in 2010, and the Sporting News National Coach of the Year award in 2011. Dixon played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
, was selected by the Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
in the 1987 NBA Draft
1987 NBA Draft
The 1987 Draft of the National Basketball Association was held on June 22, 1987 in New York City, New York.This draft is notable for the selection of two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players list, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen. Other notable selections include Reggie Miller, Kevin...
, and played professionally with the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
's Lacrosse Catbirds and for Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
National Basketball League
National Basketball League (New Zealand)
The National Basketball League, often abbreviated to the NBL, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in New Zealand.There were 10 teams in the 2010 season with teams based in Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Invercargill, Nelson, New Plymouth, North Shore, Palmerston North,...
.
Coaching career
Dixon began his coaching career in 1989 as the head coach at Te Aute CollegeTe Aute College
Te Aute College is a school in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. It opened in 1854 with twelve pupils under Samuel Williams, an Anglican missionary, and nephew and son-in-law of Bishop William Williams. It has a strong Māori character.It was built on land provided by Te Whatuiapiti, a hapu...
, a secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, before serving as an assistant at Los Angeles Valley College
Los Angeles Valley College
Los Angeles Valley College is a community college located in the Valley Glen district of Los Angeles, California in the east-central San Fernando Valley. The school is a part of the Los Angeles Community College District....
from 1989-1991. He then became an assistant coach at UC-Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
and then at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
. Dixon then became an assistant coach to Ben Howland
Ben Howland
Ben Howland is an American college head coach of men's basketball.He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and in 2008 signed an extension of his contract to run through 2015. Aggressive man-to-man defense is the trademark of Ben Howland-coached...
at Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
and later moved to Pittsburgh as part of Howland's staff when Howland accepted the Pitt head coaching job in 1999. Dixon was promoted as Pittsburgh's head coach when Howland left for UCLA following the 2002–03 season.
Pittsburgh
Dixon became head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
at Pitt in 2003, the only head coaching position he has ever held, and has an overall NCAA Division I record of 216–60. He won 188 games in his first seven seasons, tying the NCAA Division I record for most wins in the first seven seasons of a head coaching career. Previously, Dixon's 162nd win, which came in the 2009 NCAA Tournament over Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball
The Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team represents Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cowboys currently compete in the Big 12 Conference.Since 1938, the team has played its home games in Gallagher-Iba Arena...
, broke the NCAA Division I record for most victories in the first six seasons as a head coach formerly held by former North Carolina State coach Everett Case
Everett Case
Everett N. Case , nicknamed "Gray Fox", was a basketball coach most notable for his tenure at North Carolina State University, from 1946 to 1964....
. He was awarded the Naismith College Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
honors following the 2008-09 season.
Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The Big East Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Big East Conference. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Since 1983, the tournament has been held in Madison Square...
in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008, winning the 2008 Big East Tournament Championship against No.1 seed Georgetown. He is Pitt's first and only head coach to guide the Panthers to seven consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and seven consecutive seasons of at least 20 overall wins and 10 league wins. In the NCAA tournament, Dixon led Pitt to the Sweet Sixteen in 2004 and 2007 and to the Elite Eight in 2009, a year that saw his Panthers earn their first-ever No.1 rankings in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
and Coaches' Poll, their first-ever victories over a No.1 ranked team (UConn, twice), and their first ever No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament (East Region).
His success at Pitt continued through the 2010 season, perhaps his best coaching performance to date. The Panthers tied for second place in the Big East and earned a No.2 seed in the Big East Tournament, despite being picked to finish 9th in the conference preseason poll. Dixon guided Pitt to yet another NCAA Tournament appearance, their seventh in his first seven years as head coach, and was awarded both the Big East Coach of the Year and Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year
Jim Phelan Award
The Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's college basketball head coach in NCAA Division I competition...
Awards by CollegeInsider.com. He is the first and only head coach in Pitt's history to lead his team to seven consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. At the end of the 2010 season, Dixon is the winningest coach in Big East history with a current .721 winning percentage in eight seasons of league games (98-38). He also stands second on Pitt's all-time wins list, behind only the legendary Doc Carlson.
On March 31, 2010, Pitt extended Dixon's contract by two years, which will make him Pitt's head coach through the 2017-18 season.
On April 2, 2010, Dixon was named the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year by CollegeInsider.com.
On October 23, 2010, Dixon received national attention when he assisted in removing victims from a severe car accident in a Pittsburgh suburb.
On December 22, 2010, Dixon won his 200th game with a 61-46 win over American
American Eagles men's basketball
The American Eagles men's basketball team represents American University in Washington, D.C. in NCAA Division I competition. The school's team competes in the Patriot League and play their home games in Bender Arena.-2008 season:...
. With the victory, Dixon tied the all-time NCAA Division I record held by Mark Few
Mark Few
Mark Few is an American college basketball coach, currently the head coach at Gonzaga University. He has served on Gonzaga's coaching staff since 1989, and has been a constant on the sidelines throughout a period that has seen the Bulldogs rise from mid-major obscurity to regular participants in...
and Roy Williams
Roy Williams (coach)
Roy Williams is head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of North Carolina. After averaging nearly an 80% win percentage in 15 seasons at the University of Kansas, he became the eighteenth head coach at North Carolina when he replaced Matt Doherty in 2003...
for the fastest coach to earn 200 wins by achieving the mark in only eight seasons. The achievement of winning his first 200 out of 255 games also ranked Dixon among the all-time top-15 for the quickest coaches to achieve 200 victories in regards to total number of games played.
On March 2, 2011, Dixon won his 214th game with a 66-50 win over South Florida
2010–11 South Florida Bulls men's basketball team
__FORCETOC__The 2010–11 South Florida Bulls men's basketball team represented the University of South Florida Bulls during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was the 40th season of basketball for USF. The team was coached by Stan Heath in his fourth year at the school...
. With the victory, Dixon broke the all-time NCAA record for the most wins in a coach's first eight seasons. Following the regular season, the Panthers received a Number 1 seed in the Southeast Region of the NCAA tournament, where the Panthers defeated 16th seed UNC Asheville. They were upset in the third round by Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
.
Dixon was named the 2010-11 Sporting News National Coach of the Year.
Outside of basketball, Dixon has been credited with a peripheral role in the Big East's decision to invite TCU
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
to become the conference's 17th member. Specifically, he suggested to TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte that the school pursue Big East membership during a conversation at the 2010 TCU
2010 TCU Horned Frogs football team
The 2010 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by tenth year head coach Gary Patterson and played its home games at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas...
–Baylor
2010 Baylor Bears football team
The 2010 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University in college football's 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Art Briles and played their home games at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas. They are members of the Big 12 Conference in the South Division...
football game.
Notable players coached
- Sam Young (36th overall pick of 2009 NBA Draft2009 NBA DraftThe 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
) - DeJuan BlairDeJuan BlairDeJuan Lamont Blair is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . Before turning pro Blair played center for the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team from 2007 to 2009...
(37th overall pick of 2009 NBA Draft) - Aaron GrayAaron GrayAaron Michael Gray is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA.-High school career:...
(49th overall pick of 2007 NBA Draft2007 NBA DraftThe 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
) - Chris TaftChris TaftChris Taft is an American basketball player.-NCAA career:Chris Taft was born in Brooklyn, New York, and began his college career at the University of Pittsburgh after graduating from Xaverian High School in Brooklyn...
(42nd overall pick of 2005 NBA Draft2005 NBA DraftThe 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
) - Brandin KnightBrandin KnightBrandin Adar Knight is a former American professional basketball player. He is the brother of Brevin Knight....
(Assistant coach under Dixon)
United States
Jamie Dixon became the head coach of the United States under-19 men's national basketball team in 2009. That summer, he led the United States to its first gold medalGold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in 18 years in the 2009
FIBA Under-19 World Championship 2009
The 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship was an international basketball competition held in Auckland, New Zealand from July 2, 2009 until July 12.-Qualification:*FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship 2008*#*#*FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship 2008*#*#*#...
FIBA Under-19 World Championship
FIBA Under-19 World Championship
The FIBA Under-19 World Championship is a men's under-19 only basketball competition organized by FIBA. From its inauguration in 1979 until 2007 it was held every four years...
held in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. For this accomplishment, Dixon was later named USA Basketball Coach of the Year.
Acting
Jamie is a member of the Screen Actors GuildScreen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
. He starred in various commercials as a child and into his early twenties, including ads for Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
, Rice Krispies
Rice Krispies
Rice Krispies is a breakfast cereal that was created by Clayton Rindlisbacher for the Kellogg company, and later marketed by Kellogg's in 1927 and released to the public in 1928...
, Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
and Bud Light.
Head coaching record
See also
- Maggie DixonMaggie Dixon-External links:****...
(1977–2006), Jamie Dixon's younger sister; coach of the Army Black KnightsArmy Black KnightsArmy Black Knights is the name of the athletics teams of the United States Military Academy. They participate in NCAA Division I-A as a non-football member of the Patriot League, a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school, and a member of Atlantic Hockey, the Collegiate Sprint...
women's basketball program at the time of her death