Conversations with College Coaches: United States Air Force Academy
Baseball Factory is privileged to work with programs from every level of college baseball. We strive to educate and guide our players when it comes to choosing the right school. The more information a player knows about a school, coach and program, the better. Dan Mooney had the chance to sit down with Tim Dixon, the Pitching Coach at the United States Air Force Academy. Air Force is a Division I program in the Mountain West Conference. Find out what Coach Dixon had to say about his mentors, the importance of video and what he looks for in a recruit.
1. How long have you been coaching? How long at you current college or university?
I am entering my 13th season as a baseball coach and third at the United States Air Force Academy.
2. Who are some of your mentors or coaches that you look up to?
Some of my mentors and coaches that I look up to are Augie Garrido, George Horton, Rick Vanderhook, and Mike Kirby as I played for them at Cal State Fullerton. I look up to other coaches like Greg Moore, Sean Lyons, Skylar Meade, and Dan Callahan for who they were as coaches, but more importantly who they were as people.
3. What is the first thing about your school and program that you’d want a recruit to know about?
First thing I would want a recruit to know about the United States Air Force Academy is all the amazing opportunities that you get on and off the baseball field.
4. What qualities do you look for in a prospect on the field? Off the field?
The qualities we look for in a student athlete at the Air Force is character, leadership, and the desire to make a difference.
5. How has video helped your recruiting?
Video has helped recruiting by having the ability see a players initial skills to determine if there is a potential fit for our program.
6. Do you recruit from Junior Colleges?
We do a little recruiting at junior college. In most cases the junior college player will recruit us. If you come to the academy from a junior college, you start over academically and only have two years of eligibility. It is somewhat uncommon, but we have a kid this year that came for a junior college.
7. Can you break down your fall practice schedule? What will you try to accomplish?
Our fall schedule is different than most colleges. The first few weeks is spent getting our kids back into baseball shape. Our freshmen will throw very little during their six weeks of Basic Cadet Training. Once we feel we have them in good baseball shape we will proceed with fall like most colleges do. We want to see our kids compete as much as possible and lay down the foundation of what will be expected of them during the spring. We will do everything in our power to prepare them to compete at the highest level during the season.
8. Do you have a strength and conditioning coach?
We have an amazing strength and conditioning coach at the Academy. He is very receptive in what we ask of him, yet he has compete control getting our players as strong and quick as possible.
9. Anything planned for your facilities (upgrades, changes, etc.)?
We just got new wind screen last season and this year we will get a new scoreboard. We have seen drawings for a new stadium that we hope is completed in the near future. We attempt to improve our facility every year. Some years it is small, other years more extensive.
10. Is there anything you would like to add about your assistant coaches, recruits, parents, or program that we have not asked you about?
Being a part of the Air Force Academy is a very special opportunity. It is truly one of the best institutions in the country. Not only will you compete at a high level of baseball as a student athlete, but you will do so much more. Jump out of airplanes, fly gliders, travel the world, and fly planes are just a few of the things you will do as a cadet at the Air Force Academy. It is an experience like no other.
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