Katherine Bixby has been appointed as an assistant coach for the UNC women’s basketball team, as announced by head coach Courtney Banghart on Monday.
“During our extensive search, Katherine’s wide-ranging experience stood out as invaluable in the constantly evolving college athletics landscape,” Banghart said. “As a former head coach, Katherine adds significant value across key areas. She has led recruiting efforts, developed players in all positions, and been a strategist on both offense and defense. She is eager to be a team player and contribute to the continued elevation of this program, and we are excited to have her with us.”
Bixby, who brings over 15 years of coaching experience to Chapel Hill, spent the last season at Loyola of Maryland, where she played a key role in the program’s turnaround. The Greyhounds improved from a 10-21 record in 2022-23 to a 16-15 finish last season. Her efforts contributed to the 2024 Patriot League Staff of the Year recognition, marking Loyola’s first winning season since 2010-11.
Before that, Bixby spent six seasons as the head coach at Johns Hopkins, where she led the Blue Jays to five consecutive seasons with 17 or more wins, including two back-to-back 20-win seasons. Johns Hopkins claimed the regular-season conference title in 2023, and Bixby was named Centennial Conference Coach of the Year in 2019.
Throughout her tenure at JHU, she upheld a strong academic standard, with her teams earning spots on the WBCA National Academic Honor Roll four times.
Bixby also served as head coach at Dickinson College from 2014-17, achieving an 18-win season in 2017, and worked as an assistant coach at Ithaca College. Her experience further includes various camps and clinics.
A graduate of Ithaca College, Bixby will be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame on September 13 for her achievements in basketball and lacrosse. She also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Ithaca, earned in 2012.
“I am excited to begin a new chapter with the women’s basketball program at the University of North Carolina,” Bixby said. “Thank you to Coach Banghart for this incredible opportunity to join the Tar Heel community. I look forward to bringing my experience to this vibrant culture and working alongside outstanding colleagues and student-athletes.”
Leave a Reply