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University of Massachusets Athletics
Dixon To Be Inducted Into Hall Of Fame On Saturday
June 20, 2008 | Tennis
June 20, 2008
AMHERST, Mass. - UMass Head Women's Tennis Coach Judy Dixon will be inducted into the USTA New England Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Newport, R.I. on Saturday, June 21. Dixon, who owns a 189-151 record in 16 years at UMass, has been a pioneer for women's athletics. Last season, she led the Minutewomen to the top overall seed in the Atlantic 10 Championships and their sixth-straight league semifinal appearance (and 10 of the last 11 years). She will be inducted along with Olivia "Lee" Delfausse, Ralph Stuart, Richard Morse, Samuel V. Schoonmaker III, and Gerald Slobin as the class of 2008.
"I am both thrilled and honored by my induction into the New England Tennis Hall of Fame," Dixon said. "This is especially touching to have so many people coming from great distances for the event. There will be over 280 people attending at this historical venue. I look forward to the evening."
Dixon has earned Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors on three occasions. The highlight of her career was in 2001 when she led UMass to the Conference Championship and the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to her time at UMass, the winningest tennis coach in school history played alongside Billie Jean King as a doubles partner. Dixon also found time to compete in the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. Away from the tennis scene, she has enjoyed many accompliashments as a journalist. One highlight was in 1975 when she became the first woman nominated for an Emmy Award in Sports Broadcasting for her color commentary on the Spalding International Mixed Doubles Championship.
Dixon enjoyed previous coaching success with Yale University from 1973-76, leading the team to a 16-3 record and Ivy League Championship in 1976. Her work with the university was recognized by the Yale Club of New York City in April of 2006.
The USTA New England Hall of Fame exists to recognize those tennis players and non-players in New England whose achievements as sportsmen or sportswomen are worthy of the highest commendation and recognition, or whose contributions as officials or individuals in a tennis-related activity have been so outstanding over a significant period of time as to justify the highest commendation and recognition.
Be sure to check back to umassathletics.com for all women's tennis news and notes as Dixon becomes inducted into the Hall of Fame.
