SYRACUSE, NY – DECEMBER 30: Head coach Jamie Dixon of the Pittsburgh Panthers reacts to a play while holding the ball against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Petersen Events Center on December 30, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
NCAABy Alex Putterman on

Apparently Jamie Dixon likes a challenge?

The highly successful Pittsburgh basketball coach is leaving the Panthers to become the headman at his alma mater TCU, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported Monday afternoon.

Given that Pitt has made the NCAA Tournament 11 times in 13 years under Dixon and TCU hasn’t reached the Big Dance since 1998, this is a pretty unconventional move. The only real explanation is that TCU offered a boatload of money and Pitt wasn’t willing to match the offer. That or Dixon just really enjoyed his time as a student in Fort Worth and wants to go back for more.

Dixon has a lot of work to do if he hopes to turn around the Horned Frogs’ program. TCU went 12-21 this season under coach Trent Johnson and finished dead last in the Big 12. On the bright side, Dixon’s new team will return its top seven scorers in 2016-17.

This new job will be a true test of Dixon’s ability to build a program, but if TCU’s history (seven NCAA Tournament appearances in 78 years) is any indication, it won’t be one the 50-year-old coach will easily pass.

Meanwhile Pittsburgh will have to find a new coach for the first time in nearly a decade and a half. The Panthers’ top target could be Dayton coach Archie Miller, who has led the Flyers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite 8 berth in 2014.

https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/712010736004960258

 

About Alex Putterman

Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.

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