Jamie Dixon Best College Basketball Coach In America

by John Preston
(Harrisburg, PA)

Time and time again, Jamie Dixon has proven to be the greatest college basketball coach of all time. The University of Pittsburgh basketball team entered a new age of domination upon the arrival of Dixon as the head coach of the team.

Dixon originally was employed as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh and Northern Arizona University. Dixon is the current record holder for the most victories in the first six seasons as a head coach with an astounding overall NCAA Division I record of 163-45. He has the highest winning percentage among the active coaches in the Big East Conference and was given the Naismith College Coach of the Year award. This the end of the 2008-2009 season with the Pittsburgh Panthers losing in the Elite 8 of the basketball tournament.

During this season, the basketball team of the University of Pittsburgh was ranked #1 in the nation several times throughout the season. Dixon achieved all of this while dealing with major tragedies in his life. On April 6, 2006 Maggie Dixon, Jamie’s sister, passed away as a result of a heart attack. While many would crumble at the face of obstacles, Jamie Dixon refused to stop doing what he does best, win basketball games.

The success of Dixon has been highly dependent upon his rather unique coaching style. Dixon easily facilitates the relationship between him and his players, as him being a mentor and strategist for them. Unlike more disciplinarian coaches, Dixon enables his players to express their athletic talents, while keeping the team discipline high. He also stresses the significance of non-starting players stepping up and contributing to the team. In terms of play choice, Dixon never strays away from taking as many three point shots as possible, and he provides his shooters, such as Levance Fields, with the coverage necessary to do so.