For the first time in his 13 years as the head basketball coach at Pitt, Jamie Dixon had another job offer he seriously considered.
Apparently heading back to his alma mater was enough to lure Dixon away from the place he called home for the last decade plus.
Once rumors swirled Sunday about Dixon seriously considering an offer from TCU, it didn’t take long for Dixon to accept the position to be the Horned Frogs next head coach.
Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports was the first to report that the deal is done.
TCU moved quickly to make Dixon an offer after firing Trent Johnson on March 14.
In 2013, Dixon signed a 10-year contract extension through 2023 with Pittsburgh, but the Horned Frogs were able to make the money right to lure Dixon away.
While most Pitt fans don’t appreciate the job Dixon has done, under Dixon Pitt has compiled a 328-123 record and has made the NCAA Tournament in 11 of his 13 seasons. However he has led the Panthers to the Sweet 16 only twice in that span. He, along with Ben Howland, should get all of the credit for turning the Panthers basketball program around. Unfortunately Dixon was just never able to get Pitt to the next level, especially after Pitt made the move from the Big East to the ACC.
Dixon played four seasons at TCU from 1984–1987 before being drafted by the Washington Bullets in the 1987 draft.
He will have his work cut out in his new job as TCU hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 1998.
Dixon has had plenty of offers to leave Pitt in the past, but going back to his alma mater was the one job he couldn’t turn down.
We will have more on this story as details emerge.
Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
