Ms. de Blazer
Apr 8 2006, 10:21 AM
Maggie Dixon, who coached Army to its first ever NCAA basketball tournament appearance, died suddenly of cardiac arrythmia and enlarged heart. She was only 28.
Apparently in good health up to that point, Dixon took the Army job only weeks before the season began. Nono of the women's teams from the military academies had ever appeared in the NCAA tournament until Army won the Patriot League tournament, beating favored Sacred Heart. After the game, the players lifted Coach Dixon onto their shoulders and carried her around the arena. That photo was on the cover of the program at Dixon's funeral service in a packed chapel yesterday.
Dixon also made news when she and her brother Jamie became the first ever brother/sister combination to coach teams in both the men's and women's tournaments in the same year.
Cattledog
Apr 8 2006, 02:05 PM
This is just a horrible story. I remember watching an ESPN interview with Army's coach Maggie Dixon, and Pitt's coach Jamie Dixon, and being so moved (and jealous) about how close the siblings were. She turned that Army program around, and I saw the clips of her Cadets lifting her up on their shoulders after the upset over Holy Cross in the finals of the Patriot League tournament. Jamie was more proud of his sister than of his own Panthers. Such a shame... frown
charliecstl
Apr 9 2006, 07:02 AM
This is such a tragic story. I understand that life happens to all of us, and we never know for sure what will come our way. But after she had such a wonderful turn of events in her professional life, it is a shame that it all ended so abruptly. I am sure all of the people who were a part of her life are struggling right now. I hope their love for her and appreciation having her in their lives will help them cope with the immense sadness.
blueraider
Apr 9 2006, 08:21 AM
Truly a tragedy when someone with heart problems goes down suddenly. It's something that happened here in Buffalo as a Canisius player literally dropped dead of an arrythmia while shooting some hoops in the off season a year or so ago.
Something like this is happens all too often, someone has a heart condition but it isn't detected/or undetectable until the victim collaspes and dies.
Scamp
Apr 11 2006, 05:58 AM
QUOTE
It was perfect that it was Stefanie Stone who sank the free throw that sent Maggie Dixon's Army team to the school's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The six-foot forward had been rescued from the far reaches of the bench when Dixon took over as coach of the Black Knights in October. Dixon's approach was simple, one she had learned from her older brother, Pittsburgh men's coach Jamie Dixon:
She simply encouraged the sophomore.
\"Always build up the player, never tear them down,\" she said.
NY Daily News I hope that Maggie Dixon's philosophy is adopted by women's basketball coaches everywhere. Too many coaches rely on negative reinforcement. It's not just the words you use, coach, it's the tone you use. Programs are in turmoil as players leave (e.g. Minnesota and Colorado State).
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