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Phoenix tabs Dixon for boys hoops job By TIM TROWER The wait is over for Kevin Dixon. Dixon, a longtime assistant boys basketball coach who had stops at Crater and North Medford high schools and Southern Oregon University, has been named the head boys basketball coach at Phoenix High. "I'm excited," said Dixon, 40, who also has taught health and physical education at North for seven years. "I think because it's taken so long and because there have been some ups and downs, I'm not going to jump through the roof. But I think I understand a lot better now what you go through as a head coach than I did before." Dixon served as an assistant for nine years at Crater under Craig Siebenlist, worked for four years under Terry Gregg at North and, after a year away from coaching, served the past two winters as an aide to Southern Oregon University men's coach Brian McDermott. He previously applied for the head positions at Crater and North but was passed over. North's head boys position is open again, and Dixon applied. But when the Phoenix post was offered, he happily took it. Dixon takes over for Tom Murphy, who by design coached the Pirates for one season following Randy Shipley's seven-year stint. Phoenix went through a difficult year, winning four of 14 Skyline Conference games in a season marked by narrow losses. It was 10-14 overall. Dixon, who will have only a couple of holdovers to work with from that team, faces an obstacle in that he will try to institute a comprehensive program even though he probably won't be on staff at the high school. There are no job openings, but he's hopeful one will present itself eventually. Dale Sauer, the Phoenix assistant principal who will take over as athletic director for Pat Halpin next year, also expressed a desire to get Dixon on staff, "but we can't control what jobs are available." In the near future, Dixon plans to meet with prospective assistant coaches and players, set an open-gym schedule and begin building a solid AAU youth program. He noted that some of the most successful programs in the area, such as Crater and Phoenix wrestling and North softball, are so because they emphasize programs for kids. "You don't build a house from the roof down," said Dixon. "You build from the foundation up. So the youth teams have to be set." From the fifth grade on up, he said, he wants coaches and players running the same offense and defense. A la Gregg and McDermott, Dixon expects strong defense. "You can't win if you don't play defense," he says. "Your emphasis has to be on that so you can stay in games. There are some nights when you can't hit the backboard." Phoenix had several strong applicants for the position, said Sauer, but Dixon's extensive coaching experience was an overriding factor. "Everyone we talked with indicated he is really good with kids," said Sauer. "He has high moral character and is the kind of person we want our kids to have as a role model." And Dixon can't wait to get started. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.