PHOTO GALLERY

AMHERST, Mass. – Surrounded by his former student-athletes, colleagues and family, legendary Amherst College men's basketball coach emeritus David Hixon '75 was honored on Saturday as the basketball court at LeFrak Gymnasium was formally dedicated as Hixon Court.

"Dave, you've made such a mark on this place and it's only fitting that we should be here to see what will be a lasting mark of your accomplishments and your contributions," said Amherst College President Biddy Martin, one of several who delivered remarks at a ceremony in LeFrak Gymnasium.

Underneath the banners commemorating the championships that Hixon's teams won, dozens of student-athletes who played for Hixon across several generations surrounded the spot on the floor that is now adorned with Hixon's name and signature. A plaque detailing some of the accolades from Hixon's 42-year career from 1977 to 2019 is now affixed to the nearby wall as well.

Among those accolades are the two NCAA Division III national championships won by Hixon's squads in 2007 and 2013 that are perhaps the most memorable of his 826 career victories. Those 826 wins are the most with a single team of any coach in Amherst history, the third-most career wins all-time among Division III men's basketball coaches and the 15th most across all three divisions. Hixon was twice named the Division III Coach of the Year.

In his remarks, Dave Wasserman '89 noted that Hixon spent his entire career at Amherst despite overtures from larger institutions and added the statistic that among coaches who have spent their entire career at one institution, only North Carolina's Dean Smith and Kentucky's Adolph Rupp have more wins and a higher winning percentage than Hixon's 826-293 (.738) mark.

"I had enormous respect for Coach Hixon," said Wasserman. "As a coach, and as the years have passed, I'm sure like so many others in this room, as a friend, as a big brother, as a mentor. Someone you could always call and he'd make you smile and someone who you could always admire for his dedication and his commitment."

Wasserman also announced the creation of the Hixon Award, which will be given annually to both a current student-athlete and an alumnus who demonstrate an impact in the Amherst and broader communities.

Grant Robinson '22 played for the Mammoths in the final two seasons of Hixon's career. "Those two years were a blessing and I learned so much. I felt his presence when I was on the court and off the court, even when he wasn't here," said Robinson. "Those things that I take are super impactful, super influential and it's something that I'll cherish forever."



IN THE MEDIA:
MassLive: 'To have my name put on this court is beyond my belief': Amherst College honors legendary men's basketball coach David Hixon
Daily Hampshire Gazette: Amherst College names basketball court after legendary coach Dave Hixon