Author: (Coppin State

Juan Dixon Named Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Coppin State

BALTIMORE — Coppin State University Director of Athletics Derek Carter announced on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 that Juan Dixon has been named the seventh head coach in Coppin State University men’s basketball history.

“We are extremely excited to have Coach Dixon here at Coppin State University,” said Carter. “He has had many achievements in his life through hard work and dedication and for that he has received numerous recognition from all levels of basketball. His tenacity, his determination, his passion, his relentless attitude and finally his strong desire to give back to his home city of Baltimore are the traits that we were seeking in the new leader of our program.”

“I would like to thank Dr. Maria Thompson and Mr. Derek Carter for giving me an amazing opportunity. My vision is to take our University to the next level. I will be a leader at Coppin State that you and the city of Baltimore will be proud of. Everyday my staff and I will grind to make a difference in not only our student-athletes lives but the student body and the surrounding communities. I promise to do it at a high level.

Dixon comes to Baltimore from the University of the District of Columbia, where he posted a 3-25 record in his only season with the Firebirds women’s basketball team in 2016-17.

Prior to UDC, Dixon served as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach on the Men’s Basketball coaching staff at his alma mater, University of Maryland. There he supported 2015 Big 10 Conference Coach of the Year, Mark Turgeon, by enhancing game plans and strategizing how to attack opponents offensively and defensively. He helped implement offensive sets and defensive principles, analyzed and broke down film, and mentored, motivated, counseled and developed student-athletes, including future NBA players Alex Len, Diamond Stone, Jake Layman and Robert Carter, Jr.

Dixon also coached DMV’s Finest and Team Maryland during The Basketball Tournament (TBT) in Philadelphia, PA, and directs his own Juan Dixon Basketball Camp and Premier Basketball Camp, both in Baltimore, MD.

One of the most celebrated student-athletes in Maryland history, Dixon remains the all-time leading scorer in program history (2,269 points) after leading the Terrapins to their first national title in 2002 as a senior. He holds six different records in program history, ranging from points, games played, steals and 3-pointers.

The Most Outstanding Player of the 2002 NCAA Final Four and ACC Player of the Year, Dixon earned two All-America selections, three First Team All-ACC selections and two All-ACC Tournament selections throughout his illustrious career. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 steals in 141 games from 1998-2002.

Dixon was drafted with the 17th pick of the 2002 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards, where he spent three seasons. He signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2005, and he averaged a career-high 12.3 points during his first season with the team. After stops in Toronto and Detroit, Dixon wrapped up his nine-year NBA career with the Wizards in 2008-09.

Throughout his NBA career, Dixon played under Hall of Fame Player Doug Collins and Patrick Ewing (Wizards), Monty Williams and Nate McMillan (Trail Blazers), 2007 NBA Coach of the Year Sam Mitchell (Toronto Raptors), Flip Saunders (Detroit Pistons), and Eddie Jordan (Wizards). He also played alongside the following: Charles Oakley, Jerry Stackhouse, Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Christian Laettner, Tyronn Lue, (former Maryland backcourt-mate) Steve Blake, Zach Randolph, Theo Ratliff, Chris Bosh, TJ Ford, José Calderón, Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Caron Butler. During his first stint with the Wards, he was also teammates with and mentored by NBA legend Michael Jordan.

Dixon, a graduate of Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, MD, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Family Science in 2013 from the University of Maryland. During his student-athlete career at Maryland he earned numerous distinctions including: NCAA Senior CLASS Award (2002), Chip Hilton Award (2002), ESPN Shooting Guard of the Year (2002), Wooden Player of the Year Award candidate (2002), Third Team NABC All-American (2001) and Third Team USBWA All-American (2001). He was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2012, and he was selected as one of 75 All-Time March Madness Players in 2012.

Seven Coppin State student-athletes named to MEAC All-Academic bowling team

BALTIMORE — Seven Coppin State women’s bowling student-athletes were named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) All-Academic team. Overall, 44 student-athletes were honored from the conference’s 13 institutions who achieved academic success during the 2014-2015 academic school year.

Representing Coppin State were Brionca Beard, Alethia Edwards, Maribel Lovos, Shelby Mendoza, Kristen Sharpe, Danielle Smith and Kache Woods. Coppin State had the most student-athletes of any MEAC institution named to the All-Academic Team. It was the second sport this season in which Coppin State had the most MEAC All-Academic Team selections of any school in the conference. Volleyball had 10.

Woods led Coppin State with a 166.1 pinfall average during the season. Woods had her best showing on Jan. 31 at the Red Flash Invitational where she topped 200 three times during the tournament, including a career-high 241 against Cheyney. She finished second overall at the event and earned a spot on the all-tournament team.

Sharpe had a 161.2 average and bowled over 200 six times this season, which upped her career total to nine. Lovos averaged 112.8 pins and rolled 136 against Morgan State. Beard, Mendoza and Smith made contributions this season. Beard’s best performance occurred at the FDU Jamboree on Oct.31 in which she finished with a 194 game against Valparaiso.

Mendoza and Smith recorded their best showings at the Kutztown Classic Jan. 24. Mendoza rolled a career-high 153 against Medaille and Smith posted a career-best 177 against Cheyney.

The MEAC recognizes student-athletes with a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average, including sophomores, juniors and seniors, as well as transfer student-athletes, who have been in residence at the institution for at least one year.

“I applaud our bowling student-athletes who have maintained a 3.0 or better grade point average during the current academic school year,” said Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas. “In addition to acknowledging the accomplishments of these student-athletes, I also would like to recognize the athletic academic support staff, personnel and coaching staffs who contributed to the academic success of these student-athletes.”

Randal Mendez and Darien Percell combined for five hits to lead the Coppin State baseball team during a 12-7 setback to Norfolk State

Norfolk-Va. — Randal Mendez and Darien Percell combined for five hits to lead the Coppin State baseball team during a 12-7 setback to Norfolk State at Marty L. Miller Field Saturday (March 28th, 2015), in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game.

For Mendez, it was his second three-hit game of the season and first since the Eagles’ series in Jacksonville last month. He also drove in a pair of runs with a two-out two-run single in the top of the fifth inning that pulled Coppin State (1-17 overall, 0-7 MEAC North) to within, 5-3.

Mendez, who is hitting .268, has four multi-hit games. He also leads Coppin State with a .400 average with two outs.

Meanwhile, Percell extended his hitting streak to six games with a pair of hits including a double. This was Percell’s second multi-hit game of the season. Percell is swinging a scolding bat for the Eagles during his hitting streak with a .429 average. Percell drove home a pair of runs with a two-out single in the top of the seventh inning that sliced Norfolk State’s lead to 10-6.

Despite the offensive prowess of Mendez and Percell, Coppin State had trouble overcoming an early five-run deficit along with six errors. Eight of Norfolk State’s runs were unearned. The Eagles offense applied pressure throughout the game, patiently working eight walks. In addition, Coppin State had two batters hit by pitches, but the Eagles stranded 12 runners.

In its last four games, Coppin State has drawn 36 walks.

Six different Norfolk State players had two hits each. Robbie Hiser drove in three runs to lead the Spartans (7-10, 4-3).

The Coppin State baseball team started its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schedule by dropping a doubleheader to in-state rival Maryland Eastern Shore Sunday afternoon at Hawk Field. The Eagl

PRINCESS ANNE, Md — The Coppin State baseball team started its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schedule by dropping a doubleheader to in-state rival Maryland Eastern Shore Sunday afternoon at Hawk Field. The Eagles lost the games by scores of 6-3 and 8-0.

Coppin State (1-9 overall, 0-2 MEAC) was led by the sizzling bat of George Dragon who collected three hits over the two games of the doubleheader. He extended his hitting streak to five games with an RBI double that capped a three-run first inning for the Eagles in the opening game. Over CSU’s last five games, Dragon is hitting .412 with seven hits and three runs batted in.

Also, in the opening game, Randal Mendez, had a pair of doubles, including one that drove home two runs in the first inning that got Coppin State off to an excellent start. Mendez and Dragon each lead Coppin State with three multi-hit games in the Eagles first 10 contests. Both players have each reached base in every game this season.

Coppin State’s pitching staff combined for eight strikeouts in the opening game.

In the nightcap, the Eagles were hurt by a rough second inning in which Maryland Eastern Shore turned three CSU errors into five runs. In addition to Dragon, Lance Montano and Mike Wright had hits for the Eagles.

Coppin State will conclude the three-game series Monday morning against UMES at 10:00 a.m. This will be the third game of a five-game road trip for Coppin State. The Eagles visit Wofford on Tuesday and Wednesday for mid-week games