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Tyrone Dixon joined the University of Kansas football staff in January 2002 and is beginning his third season as the team's wide receivers coach. Prior to coming to Lawrence, Dixon was the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach at the University of Cincinnati. Dixon's influence among KU's wide recievers has helped the team take great strides in the pass-catching category. Three different receivers during the 2003 season -- Mark Simmons (7), Brandon Rideau (6) and Charles Gordon (5) -- found their way into the top 10 on KU's single-season touchdowns list. In addition, Rideau's nine catches against North Carolina State in the 2003 Mazda Tangerine Bowl, are the most-ever in a single game by a KU junior. Not to be outdone, Gordon earned third-team Freshman All-America honors by The Sporting News after catching 57 passes in 2003 -- the third-best single-season total in school history. Dixon, 39, was instrumental in helping the Bearcats to postseason bowl games in both 2000 and 2001. He coached All-Conference USA wide receiver LaDaris Vann, who caught 73 passes for 902 yards to become UC's all-time career receiver. Prior to joining the coaching staff at UC, Dixon served two stints as receivers coach at the University of Houston and one season on the staff of the San Diego Chargers. Dixon worked on the staff at Houston from 1994-96 and from 1998-99. He spent the 1997 season as wide receivers coach with the Chargers. In addition, Dixon coached at James Madison (1993), Temple (1992) and Akron (1990-91). He began his coaching career at Indiana (Pa.), serving as both a graduate assistant (1986-87) and running backs coach (1988). A four-year letterman at strong safety at IUP from 1982-86, Dixon won the Dan Thompson award his senior season as the team's most inspirational player. After earning his undergraduate degree in communications, Dixon later earned a master's degree in sports management from IUP in 1987. He has written a copyrighted movie script, created television commercials, performed 11 character roles in the play The Dining Room and hosted a radio show. Dixon is a popular figure in the NFL, working with the league's Minority Fellowship coaching program with six different clubs including the Pittsburgh Steelers (2000), Miami Dolphins (1999), Baltimore Ravens (1998), New York Jets (1995), Chicago Bears (1992) and Cleveland Browns (1990). Dixon, an avid teacher of the game, has also worked the camps of several NFL players such as Emmitt Smith, Tim Brown, William Floyd, and former Kansas City Chief, Kimble Anders. Dixon has four daughters, Nicoya, Amera, Tyana and Noble II. |
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