North Carolina State University Athletics
Q&A: Dwayne Dixon
2/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 25, 2005
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH -- NC State coach Chuck Amato filled out his coaching vacancies Friday by hiring former Florida assistant Dwayne Dixon.
Dixon will coach the Wolfpack wide receivers, the position he coached at Florida for the last 15 years, serving under Steve Spurrier and Ron Zook. Dixon, 42, is also a native of Gainesville and a former Gator wide receiver who played three seasons in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 1987, his final year as a player with the Bucs, Dixon got to know the team's quarterbacks coach, Marc Trestman, who was recently hired to be the Wolfpack's offensive coordinator.
GOPACK: So what is your past experience with NC State, and how much do you know about the program?
DIXON: From past coaching experiences, I had a chance to come up there during the spring one year and I got a chance to see the facilities and the area. I really felt that it was a wonderful place for a young family growing up. It is a wonderful atmosphere. The fans are behind it. And I think with Coach Amato's leadership that they have a chance to be successful.
GOPACK: How well did you know Coach Amato before you started interviewing here? DIXON: We came across each other during the recruiting process a bunch of times. We have a knowledge of each other's ability to coach and ability to deal with people and in homes. You hear stories from players that this guy is a great guy, he is a tough go-getter. That's the thing I have heard about him as a coach, from being at Florida State. His coaching ability showed that he can compete at a high level. They won national championships at Florida State and he was an integral part of that.
GOPACK: Having been at Florida for 15 years as a coach and four years as a player, you know a little bit about how successful Miami and Florida State have been over the years. How can you help NC State compete with those teams for the ACC championship?
DIXON: I have a lot of experience in playing against tough opponents and programs that have won championships before and programs that will continue to win championships. Coming in to this program at NC State, I do have a chance to bring in experience and teach athletes that I will be working with what it will take to win tough games.
GOPACK: Do you know Marc Trestman, the Wolfpack's new offensive coordinator?
DIXON: It's kind of funny. When I was playing with the Buccaneers in 1987, he was the quarterbacks coach there. I got to know him there a little bit.
GOPACK: What do you know about the wide receivers who are here now and the personnel you will be working with? DIXON: I did get a chance to watch them work out some during their winter workouts. I saw their intensity. I saw that they wanted to compete at a high level and play tough competition. I think we can match up with anybody.
GOPACK:Tell me a little bit about yourself, things you like to do away from football.
DIXON: My hobbies include sewing. I love basketball. I love sports. Oh, man, basketball is one of my first loves. Coaching and teaching are both things I love doing a lot of. I have a passion for doing it.
GOPACK: Did you say sewing?
DIXON: Yes, I tinker with clothes every now and then. Time-wise, it's a little difficult to do that, but when I do get a few moments, that is what I do as a hobby. I do some design.
GOPACK: So are you going to have any input on the uniforms from now on?
DIXON: I don't know about that. But I have gone from underwear to formal wear. What ever I need to do at that particular moment. I am fine with doing any kind of changes or alterations. I started a little fund at Florida, so that anytime I did any alterations for the coaches, they put the money into this fund for needy children.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
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