BASKETBALL: Sister's death sparked life change

ANENDRA SINGH | 7th July 2009

It's not something Jamie Dixon often talks about but it doesn't mean it's not there.

The death of his sister, Maggie, on April 6, 2006, at the age of 28 after heart complications, was a life-changing experience for Dixon and his family.

The late Maggie Dixon served as head women's basketball coach at the United States Military Academy.

In 2006, she and Dixon became the first brother-and-sister pair to take teams to the NCAA basketball tournaments in the same year, as Dixon's Pittsburgh Panthers college team also made the 2006 NCAA men's division one tourney.

The late Maggie Dixon's story became an international story.

``It's opened me up to better express my feelings because I saw people express their sympathies so it's done a lot in that regard.

``More so than anything it's made me more determined to help grow the women's game because that was her goal and commitment.''

By the same token the family had had to deal with a tremendous loss.

``It's been tough for me and my family and that's something we'll always have and that's how it should be.

``There'll always be a pain there. Our family's always been close,'' he said, adding his father had visited him in Hawke's Bay when he played with the Hawks two decades ago.

``Every day for us is tough but it's comforting to know her life has become a source of inspiration for a lot of people and women.''

His other sister, Julie Dixon, is an attorney in Los Angeles where parents Jim and Marge are living too.

The toughest thing as a coach was leaving home to recruit players and travelling with the teams.

``In college coaching is a lifestyle. It consumes every day.

``I'm down here [in Auckland for the under-19 World Championship] and every day I'm getting up early in the morning because of the time changes to make phone calls, talk to the kids, recruits and check in with our players now,'' says Dixon, who is married to Hawaiian Jacqueline (nee Corteway).

They have two children, son Jack, 6, and their daughter Shannon, 5.

``You have to marry the right person. Kids don't have much of a choice but your wife does.''