Former University of Maryland and NBA guard Juan Dixon knows about overcoming challenges to become a champion and live out his dreams as a pro basketball player. As he embarks on the new phase of this basketball life, as the new coach of the women’s basketball at the University of the District of Columbia, Dixon plans to impart the lessons learned during his star playing days at the University of Maryland and in the NBA.
Former Terp and NBA player Juan Dixon is the new women’s basketball coach at the University of the District of Columbia. (Courtesy Photo)
“I knew when I was at the University of Maryland I knew I wanted to be a coach,” said Dixon. “Every day I try to instill certain values in my players that are bigger than just basketball. My philosophy is to not only prepare them for the game of basketball but for the game of life. There are things that we do everyday that translate into real life”. Dixon led the Terps to their first, and so far only, national championship in 2002.
Dixon, who was hired on October 17 to coach the Lady Firebirds, hit the ground running on the Van Ness campus in northwest D.C. by installing the flex offense and pressure defense that were staples of his two NCAA Final Fours and the 2002 team that won the national championship at Maryland. In College Park Dixon was the hard-nosed extension of former coach Gary Williams on the floor. Those basketball principles learned under Williams will live through the Lady Firebirds as they step on the floor this year and look to improve on last year’s 21-9 record.
“Coach Williams paid attention to detail, worked hard, and the passion he coached with made you want to run through a brick wall for him,” said Dixon. “Coach is one of many who I look at as a mentor and I’m just trying to live out my purpose by teaching the game of basketball to these young ladies at UDC”.
One of the challenges Dixon faced when he was trying to make the transition was getting an opportunity to coach. Initially they were less than plentiful for the 11 year NBA veteran and national champion. His break came when he began working for three years as a special assistant under Mark Turgeon at Maryland. However, NCAA rules didn’t allow him participate in player development or strategy adjustments during games. Nonetheless, the responsibilities of scouting, film breakdown, academic support and administrative duties made Dixon an attractive candidate to try and continue the Lady Firebirds recent success.
“There is no question Juan Dixon will take our women’s basketball program to the next level,” UDC Athletics Director Patricia Thomas said in a statement. “His tremendous success as a student-athlete, as well as professionally, combined with his respect for the development of students support our goals.”
Dixon’s rebound from a hard knock life fits well into his new job as a women’s Division II basketball coach in the heart of the nation’s capital. He is coaching many urban players from challenging backgrounds like his but still youthful enough to relate to their struggles.
Juan’s parents – Juanita and Phil Dixon – were heroin addicts and spent time in jail before dying months apart while he was a sophomore in high school at Calvert Hall. His older brother Phil – a Baltimore City Police officer – then raised he and his three siblings.
“I’ve played college basketball in this century,” said Dixon. “I’m hip and aware of what goes on in their everyday lives. I just try to lead them in a manner of me understanding what they are going through”.
Dixon has seen all his basketball dreams in life come true. He sees coaching as a divine mission to his players to help them reach theirs by leaving a mark on UDC