Sam Dixon, Ph.D. has been named assistant coach for Northwestern’s women’s program, head coach Joe McKeown announced. Dixon, who brings a wealth of collegiate women’s basketball experience, comes to Evanston most recently from Akron, where he spent the past two seasons. In addition to his extensive college coaching resume, Dixon has mentored at the international level, having served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball U20 and U21 teams.
On the Zips’ staff, Dixon served as the team’s academic, conditioning and defensive coordinator as well as oversaw junior college and international recruiting efforts. Dixon also acted as the position coach for the team’s power forwards and centers and assisted with the program’s overall recruiting, scouting and game preparation duties.
Prior to Akron, Dixon served as head coach at Furman for eight seasons. His coaching tenure marked the second longest in the history of the school’s women’s basketball program.
In his first three years at Furman, Dixon led the Paladins to a 52-34 record overall, including a 38-20 mark in SoCon play. During that span, he coached a SoCon Player of the Year, guard DeShara Shealey (2003), six first team All-SoCon performers, including two-time honoree guard Lee Stephens, who recently finished her career as the school’s eighth all-time leading scorer (1,267 points), and 2009 NCAA 3-Point Shooting Champion, Melissa Liebschwager.
During his time at Furman, Dixon also served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball U20 and U21 World Championship teams. In the summer of 2006, he helped the U20 team to a victory over previously undefeated Brazil to capture the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City. The following year, he helped guide the U21 squad to a gold medal in Moscow with a victory over Australia.
Before landing at Furman, Dixon served as an assistant coach at Clemson (2000-02) and Arizona (1999). In fact, in his four years as a women’s assistant coach, all four teams earned berths in the NCAA Tournament, including the 1998-99 Arizona Wildcats, who posted an 18-11 record with a 12-6 mark in the PAC-10.
In addition to coaching men’s teams at NIU and KSU, Dixon also worked with men’s programs at New Mexico (1996-97), Davidson (1986-87) and Northern Kentucky (1981-84). He was also the head men’s basketball coach and golf coach at Denison University from 1988-91.
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