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Home » Blog » Jamie Dixon Quits Pitt For TCU Job

Jamie Dixon Quits Pitt For TCU Job

Amber Lee Blog NCAAB News
Image via Zimbio

Image via Zimbio

Fresh off their latest in a long series of March Madness disappointments, it seems the University of Pittsburgh’s loss to Wisconsin in the first round wouldn’t be their last of the season after all. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports was among the first to report that Panthers’ coach Jamie Dixon had accepted the head coaching position at his alma mater TCU.

Dixon, who played for the Horned Frogs from 1984-87, will replace Trent Johnson, who was fired a week ago. TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte fondly of Johnson in the accompanying press release, noting that he “inherited a very difficult situation,” but insisted a change in leadership was necessary to compete in the Big 12.

Though Dixon was the only name linked to the TCU vacancy, the news may come as a shock to some in Pittsburgh, at least based on a Post-Gazette report by Paul Zeise, who insisted sources close to the coach believed he was unlikely to end his 13-year tenure. Zeise speculated wildly:

Jamie is legitimately considering this move. But people around him still say he will ultimately decide to stay. He is being emotional right now, he is hurting after the loss to Wisconsin and the criticism but when it comes to signing the papers and making a decision, most people around him say he will not be able to pull the trigger and leave Pitt. It will be interesting to see if it all comes together and I’ve had some conversations since this morning that lead me to believe that he COULD leave (whereas yesterday most people said ”no chance’) but the feeling is he isn’t going to be able to leave.

Surprise or no, Dixon’s decision to depart is actually a win for Pitt basketball, which has been largely stagnant for years. Under Dixon the Panthers have been just good enough to keep him employed—sometimes good, never great, usually slightly above average.

Disappointing in Pittsburgh, slightly above average would be a substantial step up for TCU, which was 59-79 under Johnson.

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