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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 12, 2006 Dixon steps down at Phoenix, takes post with North By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Phoenix boys basketball coach Kevin Dixon is making a move, yet he couldn’t get much closer to home. Dixon has spent the past five years at the Pirates’ helm, but he teaches physical education at North Medford High, lives one block from that school and, beginning next year, will be an assistant coach for the Black Tornado girls basketball team. Dixon’s decision was announced Tuesday. He made the move purely for familial reasons. His daughter, Karissa, whom he’s coached four years in AAU ball, will be a freshman in the North program next year. "No matter what boys job I had, I’d never get to see her play," said Dixon. Advertisement In addition, Dixon and his wife, Karie, have a 9-year-old son, Karter. For the past seven years — or most of his son’s life — Dixon has been on the road much of the time during the season. Before taking over the Phoenix program, he was an assistant for two years at Southern Oregon. "I could coach the next 30 years, but I only have a few more years with the kids," he said. In all, Dixon has coached 23 years, but only the five at Phoenix were as a head coach. "I really loved it there," said Dixon. "I very much appreciated and was honored to work there. Everyone was fantastic." Dixon had an overall record of 72-52. His first team, coming on the heels of a 10-14 season, won only seven games. But the Pirates followed with four straight playoff teams, placing second in the Skyline in 2002-03, then winning the title a year later. Dixon’s last two teams placed third. It was a remarkable turnaround, given that Phoenix began the 2002-03 season with a 1-5 record, indicating another losing campaign. Then it started reeling off victories, going an eye-popping 37-6 over the next 43 contests. The two biggest games in Dixon’s tenure were near the beginning and end of that run. The Pirates stunned No. 2-ranked Mazama, 81-72, in double overtime, as they started their early roll en route to runner-up status. A season later, in a game of two top-10 teams, Phoenix made a late basket to defeat Hidden Valley, 45-42, in the Mustangs’ raucous gym to claim its first Skyline crown in 12 years. "I’ve never been involved in a better game," said Dixon. "It was standing room only." At North, Dixon will work under head coach Tim Karrick. He replaces Amber Jones, who recently had a child. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Email Security Advertisement s