Yahoo Sports Jamie Dixon 'very happy' to be at TCU after UCLA interest, fallout
TCU coach Jamie Dixon seemed like he was a lock to become the next head coach at UCLA just last week.
The whole deal, however, went south after a dispute over Dixon’s $8 million buyout at TCU — which UCLA was apparently reluctant to pay in full. That buyout “became an insurmountable sticking point” for both sides, and the deal was lost.
Dixon will instead return to TCU, where he’ll lead the Horned Frogs for a fourth season next fall. While the jump to UCLA would have been viewed by many as a major career move up the coaching ladder, Dixon insisted on Tuesday that he’s extremely content in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I’m very happy,” Dixon said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “We’ve always been happy. That’s the thing — we’ve been happy the day we got here. We’ve been happy for three years now and nothing’s changed.
“I didn’t need to be more happier, if that’s a phrase, but I think that fits best in describing it. We’ve always been happy and continue to be so, and look forward to be so.”
UCLA hired Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin on Tuesday, signing the 47-year-old to a six year, $24 million deal and ending the seemingly endless coaching search.
Cronin, clearly, was never the Bruins’ first choice to replace Steve Alford — who they fired on Dec. 31. The school went after Virginia coach Tony Bennett and Kentucky coach John Calipari before attempting to land Dixon. They then even tried to sway Tennessee coach Rick Barnes, who turned them down, too.
Now, Cronin is still a solid choice for UCLA — he’s reached the NCAA tournament in each of the last nine seasons with the Bobcats. Had Dixon reached a deal at UCLA, however, he would have been coaching much closer to home. Dixon was born just miles away from UCLA’s campus and grew up in the Los Angeles area.
Dixon did say that both his parents and his wife’s parents are getting older, and “being closer to them is enticing.” His father, Jim, can’t travel as much to games anymore, and even missed TCU’s NIT semifinal game at Madison Square Garden earlier this month.
“My wife’s and myself’s families are very important to us, and on both sides our parents are getting older,” Dixon said, via the Star-Telegram. “Our families are the most important thing to us, so that is always an ongoing responsibility that changes over time.
“My wife is an only child, and I have one sister that is still with us. So our parents, our families is a responsibility we have.”
The 53-year-old has compiled a 68-41 record in his three years with TCU, and led the Horned Frogs to their first NCAA tournament berth in 20 years last season. His current deal with the university runs through 2024. Even though he was seriously linked to a program like UCLA, Dixon and TCU have not yet started discussing a contract extension, per the report.
Still, despite the speculation and what seemed like a near-departure from the outside looking in, Dixon said he’s committed to TCU.
“I always think I’m coaching the team I’m coaching,” Dixon said, via the Star-Telegram. “We’re building every day for that. I think every day I spend coaching the guys and looking at their futures. I would say that I’m always spending every day looking at the future of our players, our program.”
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