Nate Dixon Will Temporarily Fill Utah State Head Coach Vacancy In Interim Role

Mar 30, 2023, 1:50 PM | Updated: 2:20 pm

Image of Utah State men's basketball assistant coach Nate Dixon (Photo courtesy of Utah State Athletics)

(Photo courtesy of Utah State Athletics)

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – Following the departure of Ryan Odom, it was announced that Nate Dixon will fill the role of interim Head Coach for Utah State as the coaching search continues.

Nate Dixon has held an assistant coaching position at Utah State since 2021.

Jerry Bovee announced that Nate Dixon will be the interim HC at Utah State during the coaching search. Also mentioned that Dixon will be candidate for the job.

— Scott Garrard (@ScottyGZone) March 30, 2023

Jerry Bovee, Utah State’s Interim Athletics Director, announced Dixon’s internal move to Hans & Scotty G. on the KSL Sports Zone.

In addition to the interim coach position, Dixon will be a candidate to fill the head coaching job long-term.

“I’ve talked to a couple of potential candidates,” Bovee said. “Right now it’s about the brand. The brand is Utah State and what this basketball program has done over the years. Regardless of who is in the chair, it’s been pretty successful.”

Bovee went on to explain that filling the head coach vacancy isn’t at the forefront of importance. The well-being and upkeep of the program will always be the priority.

Utah State Begins Search for Next Men’s Basketball Head Coach.

➡️ https://t.co/tC2DRcxx5x #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/P6uJOYBWY9

— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 30, 2023

“While it seems like a really big deal,” Bovee said. “It’s not, in real-time, much of an effort. Coaches are adept at ‘who am I working with today, what are my resources, and here’s what I need.’ Personalities don’t play into it as much. In the day-to-day reality, it doesn’t factor in as much as it seems like it would.”

Utah State has its eyes set on next season. Bovee is confident that the best available candidate will step up to the plate.

“We’re looking forward,” Bovee said. “That’s what Aggies do. We look to the future and continue to prepare to be as good as we can be.”

A brotherhood. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/i4Birvl5HI

— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 16, 2023

One thing is for sure, Utah State is fully behind the program. Bovee had nothing but positive things to say about the support that has been received.

“That’s the dynamic on this campus,” Bovee said. “We’re all in it. There is support and well wishes that have come from all over campus. The support on this campus has been amazing and I don’t foresee that ever changing. That’s one of the things that makes this place as special as it is.”

Ryan Odom Expected To Leave Utah State For VCU

After two seasons at Utah State, Ryan Odom will leave the Aggies to accept the same position with the VCU Rams.

The move was first reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander

VCU will be hiring Utah State coach Ryan Odom, sources told CBS Sports. A deal is not yet done, but the transition is not expected to take long. VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin has a longstanding relationship with Odom and, per sources, made overtures earlier this week.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 29, 2023

Per Norlander: “VCU will be hiring Utah State coach Ryan Odom, sources told CBS Sports. A deal is not yet done, but the transition is not expected to take long.”

Odom joined Utah State in April 2021 after leading the UMBC Retrievers since 2016. In two years, Odom amassed a 44-25 record, leading ten-seed USU to a first-round loss to seven-seed Missouri in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

In his first year in Logan, Odom led Utah State to an 18-16 record. The Aggies lost to Oregon in the first round of the NIT in 2022.

Utah State finished the 2022-23 regular season with a 26-9 record including a 13-5 mark in Mountain West play. USU was selected to finish eighth in the MW preseason media poll.

Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.