Brief bios on the two finalists.
4/1/2003 12:00:00 PM | General
The following are brief biographical sketches of the two candidates for Wright State University's men's basketball coaching position, Paul Biancardi and Jamie Dixon. More information can be found at the Ohio State and Pittsburgh websites.
Paul Biancardi, Associate Head Coach at Ohio State
Paul Biancardi has spent the last six years at Ohio State as associate head coach and seven years as the assistant coach at Boston College, all under current Buckeye head coach Jim O'Brien. Recognized nationally, Biancardi was named the No. 1 assistant coach in the country by Hoop Scoop Online.
Under O'Brien, the 40-year-old Boston native held numerous court coaching responsibilities emphasizing practice planning, game plan strategies and directing frontcourt players in skill development as well as acting as the recruiting coordinator.
Established as one of the nation's best recruiters, Biancardi was instrument in attaining several highly-rated recruiting classes. Ohio State's first class of the O'Brien era ranked as high as 20th nationally and the 2002 class was ranked 10th by Hoop Scoop Magazine and 15th by Van Coleman's Future Stars Magazine.
Ohio State has posted a 119-72 record over the last six season, including five post-season appearances and a berth to the NCAA's Final Four in 1999.
His past hard work has paid off as seen in Boston College's three NCAA Tournament runs in O'Brien's last four years and five post-season appearances over six years, including the Elite Eight in 1994 and the Big East Championship in 1997.
Prior to Boston College, he was an assistant coach at Boston University for one year and at Suffolk University and Salem State for two years. BU reached the NCAA Tournament and captured the conference title during his stay. Biancardi served as head coach for three summers for the U.S. People to People Sports Committee all-star team against some of the best international players.
Biancardi is a 1985 graduate of Salem State with a degree in physical education. He was a four-year basketball letterman and team captain as a senior when he was awarded the James Twohig Award for outstanding contributions, character and sportsmanship.
Recently, he was inducted into the Pope John XXIII High School Athletics Hall of Fame. Biancardi taught in the Boston Public School system for four years while coaching at Suffolk, Salem and BU. His resume includes serving on the advisory board to the Kids Funds, a Boston City Hospital-based organization, and recognition by the Boston City Council and East Boston Athletic Board for his community contributions and professional successes.
Born August 11, 1962, Biancardi and his wife, Theresa, have two daughters, Katerina Elise and Alyssa Marie.
Jamie Dixon, Associate Head Coach at Pittsburgh
Jamie Dixon has served the last four years as associate head coach at Pittsburgh as well as four years as assistant coach at Northern Arizona University under current Pitt head coach Ben Howland.
During his 11 years as an assistant coach, his teams won six conference championships, including this year's Big East title when Pitt advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. As Pittsburgh's recruiting coordinator, Dixon has been instrumental in the turnaround of the Panthers into a nationally-ranked power. The 2001 recruiting class ranked among the nation's top 25.
The 37-year-old California native helped notch a 42-17 record over his last two years at NAU, including back to back 21-win seasons and two Big Sky regular-season championships and two post-season appearances. Before Northern Arizona, he was an assistant at University of Hawaii and Cal-Santa Barbara. He experienced similar success at both schools, including a first-ever Western Athletic Conference title at UH. He started his coaching career in New Zealand and at Los Angeles Valley Junior College.
As a player, Dixon attended Notre Dame High School in California followed by a successful four-year career at Texas Christian University where he helped the Horned Frogs to two conference titles as a junior and senior. He earned All-Southwest Conference honors as a senior for both academics and athletics. Dixon finished his bachelor's in finance at TCU in 1987 and received his master's degree in economics from Cal-Santa Barbara in 1992.
Dixon was drafted in 1987 by the Washington Bullets and went on to play professionally with the Lacrosse Catbirds of the CBA and then in New Zealand.
He and his wife, Jacqueline, have one son, Jack.
