Katherine Bixby (Ithaca College ’10) joined the Dickinson coaching staff in 2014, taking over as the head coach of the women’s basketball program. In just her second season, Bixby led Dickinson back to the Centennial Conference playoffs for the first time since 2010 and made back-to-back appearances with another strong campaign in 2016-17. The Red Devils continued to improve throughout the entire 2015-16 season, winning seven straight games and 12 of their last 16 to earn the #4-seed in the conference tournament.
The Red Devils advanced to the semifinals before falling to #11-ranked Muhlenberg. Juniors Helen Roberts ’17 and Mary Martin ’17 were both named to the All-Conference team, leading Dickinson to an overall record of 16-10.
The program earned its second straight trip to the Centennial Conference semifinals in 2016-17, posting an overall record of 18-8. They won six straight games to close out the regular season 15-5 in conference play and earn the #3-seed in the tournament. The Devils also broke the school record for three-pointers in a season, combining for 165 on the year.
The 2016-17 team was one of the most exciting in program history, showing great composure to post a 4-1 record in overtime games. They won three straight, capped by a triple-overtime thriller against Muhlenberg and survived a late season match-up at Ursinus to help secure their #3-seed in the conference playoffs.
Martin and Roberts both had great senior seasons, making repeat appearances on the All-Conference squad. Martin reached the 1,000-point milestone against Franklin & Marshall and became the first player in program history to record over 1,000 points, 650 rebounds and 200 assists. She was just shy of 700, ranking fourth with 698 rebounds in her career and dished out 201 assists to break into the top 10 in that category as well.
Roberts proved to be one of the most prolific shooters in program history, breaking both school records for three-pointers in a season and for her career. She led the conference with 78 triples this winter, raising her career total to a program-best 169. She earned a starting role as a junior and started every game for the past two seasons. Roberts ranked fifth in the conference in three-point accuracy as well at 38 percent on the year. In addition, Roberts was equally impressive at the free throw line, shooting 81 percent for the year. She hit exactly 100 in her career, going 75 percent from the stripe.
Bixby was an All-American guard as a member of the Ithaca College women's basketball team, and returned to her alma mater as the program's top assistant coach in July of 2012. She helped guide the Bombers to a school record 27 victories and an appearance in the NCAA round of 16 in 2012-13. In her final season, the Bombers won their third consecutive Empire 8 title and returned to the NCAA playoffs – advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
A three-time All-Empire 8 First-Team selection, Bixby served as an assistant coach with the Bomber program during the 2010-11 season and at Ithaca High School in 2011-12.
Bixby became just the second Bomber to be named an All-American, earning honorable mention to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association team as a senior. She was a First-team selection to the WBCA's All-East Region team. A two-time Second-team selection to the D3hoops.com All-Region team, Bixby was a six-time Empire 8 Player of the Week during her playing career. She ranks third all-time at Ithaca with 366 assists and is the program's fourth-leading career scorer with 1,335 points. She ranks third with 141 three-point field-goals, fifth with 288 free throws and 11th with 174 steals.
During her playing career, Ithaca went 73-38 and made two appearances in the NCAA playoffs. The Bombers posted a 53-9 record in Empire 8 play. In her rookie season the Bombers won the conference tournament title and in Bixby's senior year, they recorded the conference's first 16-0 record in any sport. Ithaca went 20-7 and won the Empire 8 regular-season title in 2010-11 with Bixby on the coaching staff.
Bixby, who also received all-conference honors as a Bomber lacrosse player, graduated from Ithaca in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in biology and received her master's degree from Ithaca in 2012.
In addition, Bixby has also worked closely with the women’s golf program and teaches classes in physical education department at Dickinson.
