ATLANTA (March 31, 2020) – First-year Missouri State University head coach Amaka “Mox” Agugua-Hamilton is the 2020 Spalding Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year, the Women's Basketball Coaches 
Association announced today.
The award honors a WBCA member NCAA Division I head coach who has led their team to a successful season during their first year on the sideline. It is named in honor of the late Maggie Dixon, who in her inaugural season as the Army head coach, led the Black Knights to the 2006 Patriot League title and their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship tournament. Dixon, 29, died of an undiagnosed heart condition just weeks after on April 6, 2006.
"Realizing success in your first year as a head coach is incredibly challenging. Amaka Agugua-Hamilton’s inaugural season as head coach at Missouri State University showcased what a talented coach and leader she is,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle M. Donehew. “We celebrate her effectiveness in quickly commanding all aspects of managing a program as well as positively mentoring her student-athletes. We look forward to following her teams for many years to come.”
Under Agugua-Hamilton’s first-year leadership, the Lady Bears compiled a 26-4 overall record and finished No. 19 in the USA TODAY Sports/WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches Poll. The 26 victories by a first-year head coach marks a new record for both program and Missouri Valley Conference history. Agugua-Hamilton was also named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, becoming the second first-year head coach in conference history to receive this honor. The Lady Bears earned the 2020 MVC regular season title, finishing conference play with a 16-2 record.
“Spalding, in partnership with the WBCA, is thrilled to honor coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton as the 2020 Spalding Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year, after her stellar inaugural season at Missouri State University,” said Jack Marquardt, Spalding VP of Brand Communications. “We’re thankful for the opportunity to sponsor an award that recognizes exemplary achievements both on the court and off the court. Coach Mox embodies what this award is about and we wish her continued success throughout their coaching journey.”
The first Spalding Maggie Dixon NCAA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year award was presented in 2007, the year following Dixon’s death. Visit www.wbca.org/recognize/ to see a list of past recipients.
About Spalding
SPALDING® is the largest basketball equipment brand in the world. SPALDING® is the official basketball of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA Final Four. The SPALDING® trademark is owned by Russell Brands, LLC. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.
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