Few coaches have ever left as big an impression in only one season as the one left at the United States Military Acadamy by Maggie Dixon. She was the head coach when the Army Black Knight’s made their first ever appearance in the NCAA women’s basketball championship tournament in 2006. The 28-year-old coach brought a wealth of basketball smarts and communication skills to a downtrodden program and made the team THE talk of the campus. Her life, which ended far too soon the following summer, is captured in this wonderful book by Jack Grubbs.

Not only does the reader learn much about Dixon but also about the life of cadets at West Point and many of the traditions. This information and setting is important as it illustrates even more vividly how Dixon made an impression on her players, the student body and the officers in charge of the athletic program. Even though she never served in the military and was not raised in a military family, Dixon adapted quickly to the regimented lifestyle and guided her players to be at their best in academics and military duties as well as basketball.

Dixon’s family was a basketball family as her brother Jamie was a successful men’s coach, most notably at the University of Pittsburgh. When reading about Maggie Dixon the person, the reader will immediately see a smart, charming and witty young woman who impressed everyone who knew her. Her sudden death from cardiomyopathy left West Point in shock. Very rarely will a civilian be buried on the grounds of the academy, but because Dixon left such a mark on the campus, the officials made the decision to do so.

The writing about basketball is also very good, especially when covering important games such as those against Navy, the championship game of the Partriot League against Holy Cross and the defeat at the hands of the powerful Connecticut Huskies in the NCAA tournament. Much is also written about the players that Dixon coached. Not only are their basketball skills discussed, but also their academic and military ups and downs as well.

This is more than just an excellent basketball book about an excellent basketball coach. It is a book that captures the human spirit of a driven and successful woman who was taken away from her team and her livelihood far too soon.

I wish to thank Rowman & Littlefield for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.