18778.Divider Pages.qxd:05867 Final Divider Pages.qxd 10/8/08 6:48 PM Page 3 Beginning his 10th year at Pitt and sixth as head coach, Jamie Dixon has made his mark on the Pitt basketball program. Dixon has compiled a 132-40 record, won two Big East championships (2004 regular season and 2008 tournament) and guided Pitt to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. His winning percentage (.767) ranks fourth nationally among active NCAA Division I head coaches and marks the best five-year start for a Pitt coach. Dixon’s 132 career wins rank third all-time among NCAA Division I coaches after five seasons and his current .680 league winning percentage ranks No. 1 among all-time Big East coaches. The 2003-04 Big East Coach of the Year and first-ever Big East rookie coach to lead his team to the conference’s regular season title, Dixon has put together an outstanding coaching staff. With the staff’s unique blend of experience, contacts, talent, technical knowledge and personality, Pitt’s coaching staff of Tom Herrion, Pat Sandle, Brandin Knight, Brian Regan and Rasheen Davis rates among the nation’s best. COACHING STAFF HEAD COACH JAMIE DIXON TCU ‘87 n Sixth Year as Head Coach n 10th Year at Pitt Beginning his sixth season as the title and second all-time overall Big University of Pittsburgh’s head men’s East title, third straight NCAA basketball coach, Jamie Dixon has Tournament “Sweet Sixteen” certainly made his mark on the Pitt appearance and to a school-record program. Dixon, who is in his 10th year 31 wins. In addition, the 31 victories at Pitt, has compiled several coaching rank as the third highest total in milestones: NCAA Division I history for a first- n He guided Pitt to its second all-time year head coach. Dixon also led Pitt Big East Championship title in 2008. on an 18-game win streak to begin The Panthers became just the the 2003-04 season, a streak which second squad in league history to ranks as the third-best start for a capture the crown after winning rookie head coach in NCAA Division four consecutive games. I history. n He became the first head coach in school history to guide Pitt to five An outstanding talent evaluator who consecutive 20-win seasons, five is nationally recognized for his straight 10-plus win Big East regular coaching know-how, unquestioned seasons and five straight NCAA character and integrity, recruiting skills, Tournaments. Dixon has also guided rapport with players and work ethic, 66 Pitt to two NCAA Sweet Sixteen Jamie Dixon was introduced as the appearances (2004 and 2007). University of Pittsburgh’s 14th head n His 132 career victories rank as the basketball coach on April 15, 2003. third most wins after five seasons as Dixon, who has spent nine seasons a head coach in the history of NCAA as both the head coach and assistant Division I college basketball. at Pitt, is a basketball coach who is n Concluded the 2007-08 season as intelligent, honest, confident, well- the winningest coach in Big East spoken and true to his word. He is a history with a current .680 winning family man and complete coach who percentage in league games (66- cares for his players and program to 31), while topping several legendary the highest degree. For Dixon, names including John Thompson, basketball is a lifestyle, not a job. He Jim Calhoun, Jim Boeheim and Lou believes teamwork, defense, Carnesseca. rebounding and taking good shots are n Guided Pitt to the Big East the key ingredients to winning Championship Final in four of his championships. That philosophy has first five seasons as head coach. paid off as Pitt consistently ranks n Is one of only nine coaches in NCAA among the nation’s top defensive and Division I history to win over 100 rebounding squads. games during the first four seasons Dixon’s five-year head coaching of a coaching career. tenure at Pitt has seen the Panthers n Reached 100 wins at Pitt faster than compile a 132-40 record, accumulate any other head coach in school a 55-27 Big East regular season record history. Dixon needed only 126 and earn five NCAA Tournament games to reach the milestone. Only berths, including two Sweet Sixteen 14 coaches in the history of college appearances in 2004 and 2007. His basketball reached 100 career 132-40 slate set a school record for victories faster than Dixon. the best five-year start to a Pitt n Amassed a five-year 55-27 Big East coaching career and his .767 career regular-season record, the best winning percentage currently stands as mark in school history. the best among active Big East n Tallied an 80-10 home record in his coaches. That percentage also ranks first five seasons. among the nation’s top-10 best current n Became the first rookie head coach marks in NCAA Division I. in Big East history to both guide his Over the past nine seasons, Dixon team to the league’s regular season has been the constant and essential title and earn Big East Coach of the figure in the Panthers’ dramatic rise to Year honors in 2003-04. Dixon national prominence. The three-year earned those accolades after span from 2001-04 produced the leading the Panthers to their third winningest period in school history as consecutive Big East regular season Pitt won three consecutive Big East 2008-09 PITT BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF THE JAMIE DIXON FILE n Birthdate: November 10, 1965 in Burbank, Calif. n Hometown: North Hollywood, Calif. n Education: Notre Dame High School graduate (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), 1983; Bachelor of Business Administration–Finance, Texas Christian University, 1987; Master of Science–Economics, University of California- Santa Barbara, 1992. n Date announced as Pitt Head Coach: Tuesday, April 15, 2003. n Family: Wife, Jacqueline, son Jack Connor (born June 2, 2002), daughter Shannon Iwalani (born Feb. 25, 2004); son of Jim & Marge Dixon who reside in Los Angeles; has two sisters: Julie, who is an attorney in Los Angeles and the late Maggie Dixon, who served as head women’s basketball coach at the United States Military Academy (2005- 06) and as an assistant at DePaul. n Coaching Career Head Coach, University of Pittsburgh, 2003-present; Associate Head Coach, University of Pittsburgh, 1999-2003; Assistant Coach, University of Hawaii, 1998-99; Assistant Coach, Northern Arizona University, 1994- 98; Assistant Coach, University of Hawaii, 1992-94; Graduate Assistant Coach, University of California-Santa Barbara, 1991-92; Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Valley Junior College, 1989-91. n Playing Career Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks, Calif.; Texas Christian University, 1984-87 (Named All-SWC in 1987 and SWC All-Academic honoree), led SWC in assists as a senior; Inducted into the TCU Athletic Hall of Fame, 2007; Played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (Lacrosse Catbirds) and overseas (New Zealand). n Noteworthy Awards 2004 Big East Coach of the Year; 2004 YMCA “Person of the Year.” 67 regular-season titles, advanced to He helped turn destitute programs at three straight NCAA Sweet Sixteen Pitt, Hawaii and Northern Arizona into appearances, captured the program’s winners, has been success everywhere first-ever Big East Tournament title in and has enjoyed success at several 2003 and compiled one of the nation’s different levels. three best winning percentages (.846 Facing a major rebuilding project, with an 88-16 record) from 2001-04 he joined the Pitt staff in 1999 as including a 51-2 home record over associate head coach and recruiting those three years. In addition, the coordinator. In four short years, he program opened its sparkling, 12,508- helped turn the Pitt basketball program seat Petersen Events Center, the into a consistent national power. In nation’s best on-campus basketball 2000-01, the Panthers surged through venue. the conference tournament, earning a Dixon has 17 years of major NCAA surprising Big East Championship title Division I coaching experience, game berth while winning five of their including stints at Pitt (nine years), last seven contests. It was that year in Northern Arizona (four years), Hawaii Madison Square Garden that the (three years) and UC-Santa Barbara college basketball world first took (one year). Additionally, he has served notice of the emerging Pitt program as as an assistant under a school’s the Panthers upset nationally ranked winningest coach in four different stints Syracuse, Notre Dame and a surging (winning percentage). His teams have Miami team to earn the school’s first- won 10 conference titles, advanced to ever championship game berth. That the postseason in 12 different seasons strong finish concluded with a National and his student-athletes have earned Invitation Tournament berth, the four league player of the year awards. 2008-09 PITT BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF ACTIVE NCAA WINNING NCAA DIVISION I BEST PERCENTAGE LEADERS COACHING STARTS (5 YEARS) Coach Pct. Coach Wins Roy Williams, No. Carolina ... .803 Everett Case, NC State ......... 137 Mark Few, Gonzaga ............. .799 Mark Few, Gonzaga .............. 133 Bo Ryan, Wisconsin .............. .774 JAMIE DIXON, PITT ........... 132 JAMIE DIXON, PITT .......... .767 Roy Williams, Kansas ............ 132 Thad Matta, Ohio State........ .761 Bruce Stewart, WV-W/MT..... 126 Mike Krzyzewski, Duke ........ .750 Forddy Anderson, Drake/BU . 123 Jim Boeheim, Syracuse ....... .735 Jerry Tarkanian, LBSU/UNLV . 122 Rick Pitino, Kentucky ........... .732 Jim Boeheim, Syracuse ........ 122 Lute Olsen, Arizona .............. .731 Thad Matta, Butler/OSU ........ 122 school’s first postseason appearance in rookie head coach in league history to four years. earn both Big East Coach of the Year The 2001-02 Pitt team built upon honors and guide his team to the that momentum as it finished 29-6 and regular season title.