Director of Athletics, Dr. Les Poolman, has announced the hiring of Katherine Bixby (Ithaca College ’10) as the new Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Dickinson.
Bixby was an All-American guard as a member of the Ithaca College women’s basketball team, and returned to her alma mater as the program’s top assistant coach in July of 2012. She helped guide the Bombers to a school-record setting 27 victories and an appearance in the NCAA round of 16 in 2012-13. Last season, the Bombers won their third consecutive Empire 8 title and returned to the NCAA playoffs – advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
A three-time All-Empire 8 First-Team selection, Bixby served as an assistant coach with the Bomber program during the 2010-11 season and at Ithaca High School in 2011-12.
Bixby became just the second Bomber to be named an All-American, earning honorable mention to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association team as a senior. She was a First-team selection to the WBCA’s All-East Region team. A two-time Second-team selection to the D3hoops.com All-Region team, Bixby was a six-time Empire 8 Player of the Week during her playing career. She ranks third all-time at Ithaca with 366 assists and is the program’s fourth-leading career scorer with 1,335 points. She ranks third with 141 three-point field-goals, fifth with 288 free throws and 11th with 174 steals.
During her playing career, Ithaca went 73-38 and made two appearances in the NCAA playoffs. The Bombers posted a 53-9 record in Empire 8 play. In her rookie season the Bombers won the conference tournament title and in Bixby’s senior year, they recorded the conference’s first 16-0 record in any sport. Ithaca went 20-7 and won the Empire 8 regular-season title in 2010-11 with Bixby on the coaching staff.
Bixby, who also earned all-conference honors as a Bomber lacrosse player, graduated from Ithaca in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and received her master’s degree from Ithaca in 2012.
With a strong playing and coaching background, Bixby brings a wealth of experience to Carlisle and looks forward to the challenge of running her own program. She expressed her anticipation and gratitude for the opportunity as she takes this next step in her career.
"I want to thank Dr. Poolman and the athletic department staff for the opportunity to lead the women’s basketball program. I am excited and eager to join a Dickinson community that is committed to academic and athletic excellence. Having once competed in the tri-state area, I am looking forward to being a part of the high caliber basketball that is present in the Centennial Conference."
In addition to coaching, Bixby will also teach classes in physical education department at Dickinson.
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
