NCR and Rugbee.co are proud to recognize Mark Dixon as March’s Coach of the Month. Dixon is the head coach of the Southeastern Louisiana University Men’s team and started coaching the team in 2018.
Dixon’s coaching career began in 2014, co-founding the St. Paul’s High School rugby team with Dr. Don Hart in Covington, Louisiana. He helped coach the team to an undefeated season and conference win in 2015.
In 2018, Dixon and Dr. Hart worked to rebuild the Southeastern Louisiana University program. With unwavering support from alumni and faculty, they led the team to an undefeated Deep South Collegiate Conference season in 2019. Despite facing challenges like the pandemic and Hurricane Ida, their resilience paid off. In 2022, the team dominated their conference once more, going undefeated again.
Dixon successfully petitioned for the team to join the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference (SCRC). The fall of 2023 saw them undefeated in conference play, SCRC Small College Champions, and NCR playoff participants in Culpepper, VA. Five players earned SCRC All-Conference honors, and Coach Dixon himself received the SCRC Small College Coach of the Year award.
Southeastern Louisiana nominated Dixon, highlighting his impact on their program, “He makes every practice, convinces us we can be great, and also takes advice from members of the team and puts them into action. This club has went from nothing to nearly missing the final 4 in 5 years. A big part of this success has been because of the family environment that Mark Dixon has created.”
Dixon is supported by his family and their restaurant in Mandeville, Louisiana, as well as his loyal supporters, including his daughter’s dog, Buddy.