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June 5, 2012

Haymaker ex tabbed to lead boys team

By Kenton Brooks Phoenix Sports Writer

— As Greg Wilson went through the 30 applicants for the Haskell High School boys basketball coaching position, the name Jay Dixon stood out.

After all, Dixon is a 1991 graduate, a former assistant coach in the program (in 1996-99) and his father J.T. was a long-time coach, principal and superintendent in Haskell.

Wilson, the school’s athletic director, knew the choice was clear. The younger Dixon has now been approved by the school board to replace Steve Goss after Goss resigned in late April to take the head coaching job at Edmond North.

“It was a no-brainer to pick him,” Wilson said. “It’s a perfect fit. Winning is in his blood. He’s truly the perfect role model for our kids.”

The younger Dixon will be a lay coach because he is a preacher at the First Free Will Baptist Church in town.

Though Jay Dixon’s father died in 2008, his mother Maxine still lives in Haskell. She was a proud mother when Jay told her of the news about his hiring.

“She wanted to make sure I was going to wear a tie,” Jay said with laugh. “She was very happy about the news. It’s an honor to coach on the campus that bears my dad’s name.”

Dixon’s uncles are Leon and Truman Dixon, long-time coaches at Checotah High School. They are members of the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame, while J.T. Dixon is in the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

“Some pretty big shoes have walked before me,” Jay Dixon said.

The younger Dixon, a member of Haskell’s Class 2A state runner-up team in 1991, said he’s still deciding the style of basketball his team will play. The Haymakers return two starters – 6-foot-7 Michael Love and 5-11 Alex Wheeland – from the team that reached the 3A state quarterfinals and finished the season at 19-8.

“I’m in the early stages of figuring what we’re going to be like,” he said. “I’ll find out pretty soon as we began our camps this week. Steve did a fantastic job and I have high hopes for this team.”

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