RALEIGH – NC State men’s basketball head coach Kevin Keatts announced Wednesday that Larry Dixon has joined his staff as an assistant coach.
Dixon comes to NC State after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach at South Florida.
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors voted in January to allow two more assistant coaches on men’s basketball staffs. Dixon, will serve as one of the Pack’s two new assistant coaches that can engage in coaching activities but may not recruit off campus.
“I think Larry is a great addition to our staff,” Keatts said. “He’s a North Carolina native that has dedicated himself to a coaching career since graduating from college. He started at the high school level in North Carolina and eventually moved up to college and now has been a Division I assistant coach for almost 20 years. I think his experience is going to be a great asset for me and our coaching staff, as well as the young men in our program as we develop them on and off the court.”
Larry Dixon joined the USF coaching staff as assistant coach on May 12, 2018.
In just his second season with the team in 2018-19, Dixon helped USF to the top win turnaround in the NCAA during the 2018-19 season, as the Bulls won 14 more games than the previous season. In addition, USF turned in a 24-14 overall record to set a new single-season school record for wins. The Bulls would go on to win the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) championship and claim the program’s first postseason title since 1990.
Dixon also played an instrumental role in the development of 2019 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Laquincy Rideau and 2019 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Alexis Yetna.
Dixon helped USF become one of the top defensive teams in the NCAA during the 2019-20 season, finishing the year ranked 20th in scoring defense by allowing only 62.7 points per game. The Bulls limited eight teams to fewer than 60 points during the season and held 27 of their 31 opponents under their scoring average at the time of play. The Bulls also ranked 44th in the nation in turnovers forced with 15.6 per game, and stood 65th in the NCAA in steals with 7.5 thefts per game.
In 2021-22, Dixon helped develop Russel Tchewa and Corey Walker Jr. into one of the best frontcourt tandems in the league. The Bulls were again among the top defensive teams in the country, ranking 45th in the NCAA in scoring defense (64.9 ppg).
Dixon came to Tampa after five seasons as an assistant at Georgia Southern under head coach Mark Byington. Prior to his stint with the Eagles, Dixon had collegiate assistant coaching jobs at Winthrop (2007-12), East Carolina (2005-07), South Carolina State (2003-05) and St. Andrews College (2002-03).
In his final season at Georgia Southern, Dixon helped lead the Eagles to a 21-12 record, including an 11-7 mark in the Sun Belt. In 2016-17, he helped Georgia Southern reach the postseason for the first time since 2006, playing in the College Basketball Invitational.
Prior to arriving at Georgia Southern, Dixon spent the 2012-13 season as head coach at York Comprehensive High School in York, S.C.
During his five seasons (2007-12) on the coaching staff at Winthrop under head coach Randy Peele, Dixon was recognized as the top assistant coach in the Big South by Fox Sports.
Before entering the college game, Dixon served as the head coach at Garinger High School in Charlotte, N.C. for three seasons. In 2001, he led Garinger to a North Carolina High School sectional championship and earned Mecklenburg County Coach of the Year honors from the Charlotte Observer. Dixon also spent one season as an assistant at Carver High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. and one season at South Rowan High School in his hometown of Salisbury, N.C.
Dixon graduated from Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, N.C) in 1996, where he was a four-year letterman as a player. He was named the team’s most improved player following his junior season and the top defensive player after his senior season. He helped the Golden Bulls to a pair of CIAA Southern Division titles and a championship game appearance as a sophomore.
A native of Salisbury, N.C., Dixon has two children, Devin and Leah.
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To wolfpack74 and Papajohn…… I have no idea if we will lose anyone to the portal but, I see Rice as a great addition and possibly insurance in case Morsell goes pro. I don’t remember the NCAA being very kind to the Pack, so I am doubtful about Dusan getting another year of eligibility. But this has to be the most on paper talent we have ever had.
So good! I somehow thought we landed him or maybe I’m just unable to keep up. I’m greedy! Who’s next?!?
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MJ Rice signed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome! KK is cooking!. Rice was a key ingredient.
Glad I was wrong about Rice. Now what about Bradley?
This time last year we still hadn’t had any portal commitments and the fanbase was in a panic.
I think Bradley will keep his activity very low key given the stuff that happenned last year, no need to draw attention.. Probably won’t hear anything until he commits somewhere. Still a lot of time to find someone else, and that’s assuming KK will use Dusan’s scholly for another transfer.
Do you think we will have some players now enter the Transfer portal after Rice committed to State. However, three of these commitments have not as of now signed on the dotted line.
Rice is going to play the 4 position, the position our starters Clark and Gantt left wide open. Seems unlikely anyone would transfer out because of that. Ross would be the possibility, but there’s been no rumors of that.
Just guessing, but if we actually do sign a PG, that might trigger a transfer. We’d be getting pretty full at that position.
You never know how other players will re-assess their situation, but I’m hoping everyone stays. I like all our players and you don’t have to be a starter or play big minutes to help the team win.
I doubt any are suprised that KK is bringing in the best talent he can get.
Maybe premature prediction. Only one local analyst called it for State. Wait to see, but I doubt he comes.
My guess is, HE’S COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol
classic
Back troubles are a bitch. He’s young. Hope he recovers. But if he only play 50% of the time, this guy is a good get.
I too like him quite a bit. He’s well built, as well. I think he can withstand a good deal of pushing around and may even be the one who pushes people out of the way. As for the back problems, yeah, that’s not great but hopefully at his young age, it’s the type of thing he’ll recover from. Plus, in this day and age, our medical science is so advanced that if you have the resources, there are few ailments that can keep you down if under the right regime and guidance.
He had back troubles all last season. Hopefully that is BEHIND HIM. (sorry)