Mandy Hixon (2023) - Hall of Fame - University of Massachusetts Athletics

Mandy Hixon

Induction:
2023

Mandy Hixon transformed Massachusetts diving during her 17-year career leading the program. She was named Atlantic 10 Diving Coach of the Year a combined 18 times including 2008-11 and 2014-16 on the men’s side and 2006, 2008-15, 2017 and 2020 for the women.

Hixon coached 11 UMass women’s divers to Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Diver honors while guiding the men’s divers to six Most Outstanding awards at the league’s annual championship meets.

In 2009, she helped Jason Cook become the first diver in UMass history to qualify for the NCAA meet. Then in 2013 and 2014 Michaela Butler became a three-time All-American at the NCAA Championships meet as she finished fourth on the one-meter board in 2013 and in 2014 she took fifth on both the one-meter and three-meter. Prior to Massachusetts, Hixon coached at Amherst and Williams. As a diver at Ohio State, Hixon was an All-American selection, a two-time Carrie Irish Finneran Award Recipient (school’s MVP) and a four-year scholar athlete. She was a member of the United States International diving team between 1980-1984 and placed sixth at the 1984 Olympic Diving Trials.