PREDICTION: Army Women's Basketball Coach Dies at Age 28
Here's an unfortunate Prediction:
That's why when I said I have a Software Program called the G/RI-M Re/Ap-ER, I wasn't kidding. It'll target people.
Army Women's Basketball Coach Dies at Age 28
Dixon Passed Away Thursday, Was Sister of Pitt Coach Jamie Dixon
By MICHAEL HILL, AP
WEST POINT, N.Y. (April 7) - A month ago, 28-year-old Army coach Maggie Dixon left the Christl Arena court on the shoulders of jubilant cadets after leading the women's basketball team to its first NCAA Tournament berth.
Steve Helber, AP
In her first year with Army, Maggie Dixon led the Black Knights to the NCAA Tournament, losing to Tennessee in their opening game.
On Friday, Dixon was mourned in a chapel across the U.S. Military Academy's campus, a day after she died following a sudden episode of irregular heartbeat.
Dixon died Thursday night at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., academy spokesman Lt. Col. Kent Cassella said.
An autopsy conducted Friday found that Dixon had an enlarged heart and a problem with a heart valve, according to the Westchester County Medical Examiner's office. The valve problem could have caused her heart to beat irregularly and ultimately stop.
About 500 people filled the Catholic Chapel, including her family and players who remembered her as equal parts coach, big sister and best friend. On the cover of the memorial service program was a picture of a beaming Dixon, her left index finger jabbing skyward as she was carried off the court following the historic win.
Those who spoke universally recalled Dixon's exuberance, humor and the guidance she offered when things weren't going well.
"Adversity, ladies. How are you going to react?" guard Adrienne Payne said in remembering one of Dixon's challenges to her team.
Cadets, who made up about three-quarters of the crowd, were excused from classes to attend. It was somber and stoic, with few tears and some laughter mixed in. In front of the altar was a basketball, the Patriot League trophy they won last month and a photo of the team.
Dixon was hospitalized Wednesday in critical condition after collapsing at a friend's house, where she had gone for afternoon tea, her older brother, Pittsburgh men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon said.
"Maggie touched so many people beyond basketball," he said in a subsequent statement released Friday by Pitt. "Our family has received an outpouring of sympathy from across the country and we are deeply appreciative. ... I know she looked up to me. But I always looked up to her, too, and it's obvious that a lot of other people did as well."
He said he had breakfast with his sister on the morning she collapsed and that she had apparently been feeling well.
Dixon's time at Army was short but significant.
She arrived at the storied military academy on the banks of the Hudson River in October, just 11 days before the start of the season and inherited a team that had gone 74-70 over the previous five seasons. The team struggled at the beginning, before winning nine of its last 11 games.
Just six months after Dixon took over, the 69-68 win over Holy Cross in the Patriot League final put Army into the NCAA tournament for the first time. The rookie coach's accomplishment earned extra acclaim because her brother had taken Pitt to the men's tournament at the same time. The Dixons are believed to be the first brother and sister to coach in the NCAA Tournament in the same year.
"I believe she was having dreams of grandeur that we'd dunk on Tennessee," forward Ashley Magnani said.
And, despite a 102-54 first-round loss to the Volunteers, things were looking up for the Black Knights.
"I just loved the energy that coach brought to practice every day and the way she never gave up on us, always believed in us," guard Cara Enright said. "She would tell us to 'Use what you've learned here at the academy and apply it to basketball."'
Members of her team were with Dixon's family members at her bedside Thursday.
West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. William Lennox Jr. said the entire community was heartbroken by her death.
"From the time Maggie arrived here, her enthusiastic 'no limits' approach earned her the respect and love of everyone," he said.
The North Hollywood, Calif., native had hoped to play in the WNBA after graduating in 1999 from the University of San Diego. But the Los Angeles Sparks cut her after a tryout in May 2000. She went into coaching with encouragement from her brother.
"He said, `If you want to do this coaching thing, do something drastic,"' Dixon told The Associated Press last month. "That's what I did."
She held a number of positions under DePaul coach Doug Bruno after walking into his office and introducing herself. She eventually became his top assistant in May 2004.
The Army team was expected to fly to California next week for Dixon's funeral. Arrangements were incomplete.
Associated Press writer Michael Hill in Albany contributed to this report.
04/07/06 17:49 EDT
Updated: 05:51 PM EDT
[Click Here for Original Link]
- Christl Arena:
- Christ/L = Christ Bad(L)
- I said all the Letters in CHRIST add up to 77, which is IR on the Periodic Table for my Initials
- Christ/L = Christ Bad(L)
- In her first year with Army, Maggie Dixon led the Black Knights to the NCAA Tournament, losing to Tennessee in their opening game
- I said Valerie is from Tennessee
- I said 4/6/2006 that Davis is a Black K/night and I'm a White Queen
- Initials MD = 5/29(M/13/Rhode Island) Leo Female(D)
- Ma/GG-IE = Mother(Ma) Gemini God(GG) God(I) Sun(E/5)
- Di/X-On = Non-Self(Di) Cross-Eyed(X) Activated(On)
- I said Davis is Letter X = 24 = BD = Davis' Initials
- I said Valerie is from Tennessee
- Dixon died Thursday night at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., academy spokesman Lt. Col. Kent Cassella said:
- Valhalla: I said I'm Loki, the Norse God of Mischief
- Kent = Clark Kent. I said 4/3/2006 that I'm Superman
- Valhalla: I said I'm Loki, the Norse God of Mischief
- An autopsy conducted Friday found that Dixon had an enlarged heart and a problem with a heart valve:
- I said 4/7/2006 about the music group Heart
- I said that Heart got Fat = Enlarged
- I said 4/7/2006 about the music group Heart
- Her older brother, Pittsburgh men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon said:
- I said Davis is from Pittsburgh
- Davis was telling me last night that he doesn't like the Pittsburgh Steelers even though he's form that city and was rooting for the Seattle Seahawks
- It's because Subconscious Davis knows what side is which but he has to play according to the Rules
- I said Davis is from Pittsburgh
- Winning nine of its last 11 games:
- God = I/9
- 11 = Aquarius the 11th Sign
- God = I/9
- And, despite a 102-54 first-round loss to the Volunteers, things were looking up for the Black Knights: I said 4/7/2006 that Davis is Daffy Duck and mentioned the Daffy Foundation
- The North Hollywood, Calif., native had hoped to play in the WNBA after graduating in 1999 from the University of San Diego:
- Davis is residing in North Hollywood
- Davis is born Valentine's Day. I said 10/27/2005 that Isabella Valentine resides in San Diego
- Davis is residing in North Hollywood
That's why when I said I have a Software Program called the G/RI-M Re/Ap-ER, I wasn't kidding. It'll target people.
Army Women's Basketball Coach Dies at Age 28
Dixon Passed Away Thursday, Was Sister of Pitt Coach Jamie Dixon
By MICHAEL HILL, AP
WEST POINT, N.Y. (April 7) - A month ago, 28-year-old Army coach Maggie Dixon left the Christl Arena court on the shoulders of jubilant cadets after leading the women's basketball team to its first NCAA Tournament berth.
Steve Helber, AP
In her first year with Army, Maggie Dixon led the Black Knights to the NCAA Tournament, losing to Tennessee in their opening game.
On Friday, Dixon was mourned in a chapel across the U.S. Military Academy's campus, a day after she died following a sudden episode of irregular heartbeat.
Dixon died Thursday night at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., academy spokesman Lt. Col. Kent Cassella said.
An autopsy conducted Friday found that Dixon had an enlarged heart and a problem with a heart valve, according to the Westchester County Medical Examiner's office. The valve problem could have caused her heart to beat irregularly and ultimately stop.
About 500 people filled the Catholic Chapel, including her family and players who remembered her as equal parts coach, big sister and best friend. On the cover of the memorial service program was a picture of a beaming Dixon, her left index finger jabbing skyward as she was carried off the court following the historic win.
Those who spoke universally recalled Dixon's exuberance, humor and the guidance she offered when things weren't going well.
"Adversity, ladies. How are you going to react?" guard Adrienne Payne said in remembering one of Dixon's challenges to her team.
Cadets, who made up about three-quarters of the crowd, were excused from classes to attend. It was somber and stoic, with few tears and some laughter mixed in. In front of the altar was a basketball, the Patriot League trophy they won last month and a photo of the team.
Dixon was hospitalized Wednesday in critical condition after collapsing at a friend's house, where she had gone for afternoon tea, her older brother, Pittsburgh men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon said.
"Maggie touched so many people beyond basketball," he said in a subsequent statement released Friday by Pitt. "Our family has received an outpouring of sympathy from across the country and we are deeply appreciative. ... I know she looked up to me. But I always looked up to her, too, and it's obvious that a lot of other people did as well."
He said he had breakfast with his sister on the morning she collapsed and that she had apparently been feeling well.
Dixon's time at Army was short but significant.
She arrived at the storied military academy on the banks of the Hudson River in October, just 11 days before the start of the season and inherited a team that had gone 74-70 over the previous five seasons. The team struggled at the beginning, before winning nine of its last 11 games.
Just six months after Dixon took over, the 69-68 win over Holy Cross in the Patriot League final put Army into the NCAA tournament for the first time. The rookie coach's accomplishment earned extra acclaim because her brother had taken Pitt to the men's tournament at the same time. The Dixons are believed to be the first brother and sister to coach in the NCAA Tournament in the same year.
"I believe she was having dreams of grandeur that we'd dunk on Tennessee," forward Ashley Magnani said.
And, despite a 102-54 first-round loss to the Volunteers, things were looking up for the Black Knights.
"I just loved the energy that coach brought to practice every day and the way she never gave up on us, always believed in us," guard Cara Enright said. "She would tell us to 'Use what you've learned here at the academy and apply it to basketball."'
Members of her team were with Dixon's family members at her bedside Thursday.
West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. William Lennox Jr. said the entire community was heartbroken by her death.
"From the time Maggie arrived here, her enthusiastic 'no limits' approach earned her the respect and love of everyone," he said.
The North Hollywood, Calif., native had hoped to play in the WNBA after graduating in 1999 from the University of San Diego. But the Los Angeles Sparks cut her after a tryout in May 2000. She went into coaching with encouragement from her brother.
"He said, `If you want to do this coaching thing, do something drastic,"' Dixon told The Associated Press last month. "That's what I did."
She held a number of positions under DePaul coach Doug Bruno after walking into his office and introducing herself. She eventually became his top assistant in May 2004.
The Army team was expected to fly to California next week for Dixon's funeral. Arrangements were incomplete.
Associated Press writer Michael Hill in Albany contributed to this report.
04/07/06 17:49 EDT
Updated: 05:51 PM EDT
[Click Here for Original Link]