I just feel sick about this… Maggie Dixon, head basketball coach at Army, and brother of Pitt head basketball coach Jamie, passed away at the age of 28. She had some soft of a heart arrhythmia on Wednesday, and on Thursday night, she died in the hospital. She had no history of heart problems… and appeared perfectly healthy. It just came out of nowhere.
The last time we saw her, she was being carried off the court on the shoulders of Army cadets after the Army basketball team won their conference tournament. She appeared on TV with her brother, and they were obviously very close, and very much enjoying each others’ success. At least, you know… she was living life to the fullest. She was having a positive influence on people, she was giving of herself, she was sharing her talent with the world… Before she went, she did have a chance to do what she loved, and what she was very good at. Thank God for that.
Terribly, terribly, tragic thing.
DookieStyle
Well said, MJD.
April 7, 2006 at 12:40 pm
VTHokie01
Terrible story, but at least she was living life to the fullest. I’m two years older than she was, and I’ll probably NEVER coach ANY D-1 team. What an accomplishment.
I had a buddy once whose ticker abruptly stopped like this. It’s always terrible to lose young, vibrant, promising people.
Here’s to Maggie. Don’t waste your time while you’re here.
April 7, 2006 at 12:44 pm
KBWPitt
Nice post MJD. I linked to the army video of her being carried off the court over at my site. Jump on over to check it out.
April 7, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Unsilent Majority
I got a chance to meet Jamie during my time at Pitt, although I never met Maggie I understood how close their relationship was. I just hope that the Dixon family and Maggie’s players are able to grieve and eventually recover from the tragedy. It seems that everybody out there will miss Maggie’s influence very much, myself included.
April 7, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Unsilent Majority
nice work Keith
April 7, 2006 at 3:26 pm
Brett Favres Puke
Too bad. she was a real dime looker.
April 7, 2006 at 7:01 pm
Kristy
When I hear that a young, apparently healthy women has died from a heart arrhymthmia, I wonder if she had suffered from an eating disorder???
April 8, 2006 at 11:31 am
Cheryl
No-she didn’t have an eating disorder. I knew her well. She was healthy (physically and emotionally), funny, giving, and courageous. She will be missed greatly by many.
April 8, 2006 at 10:12 pm
Kristy
I am glad to hear that she didn’t have an eating disorder. You were very lucky to know her. Maggie she seems like a remarkable women. I am sure this is a difficult time for you. Take care!
April 9, 2006 at 3:22 pm
Tom
I had only just read about Maggie D. a little while ago, looked her up online and read about the Army women’s team success, and then was deeply saddened by her death. Something about just having learned about what her program was accomplishing and then hearing of her death… well, what is there to say. I wish her family the best; it’s hard to make sense out of deaths like this….
April 9, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Rich
I’m a big Pitt hoops fan, and I think the Dixon’s, Jamie and Maggie, are a class act. My hearfelt prayers go out to Jamie and his family in this time of grieving. I lost my father in December, so I know very much how they feel. It is such a tragic thing, a life so young and rich with such a future, cut short so quickly. When I saw the news running across the ESPN ticker getting ready for work friday morning, it felt like my heart sank.
April 10, 2006 at 12:16 am
CheeseheadPete
Unfortunately, these things occur without any warning sometimes. Didn’t know much about her, but I’m glad she had some success, and a positive influence on her kids.
April 10, 2006 at 5:24 am
Rich
I wonder if she had Marfan Syndrome which can cause an eruption of the aorta. Very sad indeed as to her passing.
April 10, 2006 at 7:29 am
JOBS
It is horrible for such a yound energetic and talented individual to pass. I was a member of the 49ers PR staff when Thomas Herrion passed away last season after a game. It was the same inexplicable heart failure.
Hearts out to the team and coaching staff and Army and especially the fam.
April 10, 2006 at 2:35 pm
Kasia
I knew Maggie.. she was recruiting me for DePaul… very enthusiastic… funny always smiling…. I still cannot believe that she passed so suddenly…
She was exactly what ball is about: passion, heart and enthusiasm..
Rest In Peace…
April 10, 2006 at 9:04 pm
Rhondda Nunes
The only thing that makes such a tragedy bearable in it’s heart-breaking finality is that Maggie Dixon was doing what she loved & was loved by those around her.Best moment in the NCAA D1 Women’s Conference Championship games was to see those cadets lift her up; the surprise & joy on her face & the pure, unbridled joy on the faces of her players, the whoop!the cadets erupted with spontaneously;Hollywood couldn’t have crafted it better.
I was incredulous to hear that she had died so young & so suddenly.She packed a lot of living into her 28 years; she was totally alive when she died. Certainly all of us can be as mindfull & live life the way she did; as if every day could be your last; because none of us know how long we have. Every day really is a gift.RIP Maggie, you were loved; & are missed by those that love you .May all the rest of us do as much with our lives as you packed into your 28 years.
April 12, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Ele G.
When I read about her death, my immediate reaction was that she might be a victim of Marfan Syndrome. She wouldn’t be the first tall athlete who has dropped dead of this disorder. It’s a rare connective tissue disease caused by a genetic flaw. It’s also hereditary and I would hope the doctors check other family members for the disorder, especially anyone who wants to have children as there is a 50% chance that children will inherit the condition. More information can be found at http://www.marfan.org .
April 17, 2006 at 8:51 pm