Following his playing days, Hixon earned a master's degree from the
University of Massachusetts and volunteered in coaching (basketball, track & field, football) at Amherst. Hixon was hired as Amherst head coach in 1977 at only 24 years of age. Hixon's Amherst teams won national championships in 2006–07 and 2012–13. In 2008, he reached the national championship game with his squad, where they suffered defeat to
Washington (MO). In 2004, 2006, 2014, 2016, he led Amherst to the national semifinals. Under his tutelage, Amherst participated in the NCAA national tournament 20 times and compiled a 43-20 postseason record. However, due to New England Small Conference Athletic Conference (NESCAC) rules, his Amherst team was ineligible for NCAA postseason play until 1994. He took on arch rival
Williams College 21 times during his coaching career, winning 17. Hixon also coached soccer and track at Amherst. On May 7, 2022, the floor at Amherst's LeFrak Gymnasium was named Hixon Court.
Retirement On September 16, 2019, it was announced that Hixon would be taking a leave of absence for the 2019–2020 season, and that assistant coach
Aaron Toomey would be the interim head coach. On April 13, 2020, Hixon announced his retirement. In April 2023, it was published that he was elected into the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Hixon was the first coach of an NCAA Division III institution to be inducted.
Legacy Several of Hixon's players went on to play professionally, including players like: • Andrew Olson (played in Germany; All-American in 2007 and 2008) •
Willy Workman (plays in Israel; All-American in 2013) • Kevin Hopkins (played in Germany) • Fletcher Walters (played in Germany and Luxemburg) • Pat Fitzsimmons (played in Germany and Ireland) • Brian Baskauskas (played in Denmark; All-American in 2009) Other standout players of his Amherst tenure include •
Aaron Toomey (2014 D3hoops.com NCAA Division III Player of the Year, also All-American in 2012 and 2013) • John Bedford (2006 All-American) • Andrew Schiel (2005 All-American) • Steve Zieja (2003 All-American) • Conor Meehan (2011 All-American) • Jordan Moss (2011 All-American) Throughout his coaching career, Hixon received interest from NCAA Division I schools, especially from the
Ivy League. In 2008, he was a candidate to become the new head coach of
Bucknell University. Hixon declined the offer, but suggested
Dave Paulsen of Amherst's rival Williams College as a candidate. Paulsen eventually ended up getting the Bucknell job. == Family ==