WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army Women’s Basketball Coach Maggie Dixon, 28, died last night at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y. Coach Dixon collapsed Wednesday during an afternoon tea and was taken immediately to Keller Army Community Hospital. She was then airlifted to Westchester.

West Point superintendent, Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox Jr., said the entire community is heartbroken by her death.

“From the time Maggie arrived here, her enthusiastic ‘no limits’ approach earned her the respect and love of everyone,” he said. “She consistently displayed great leadership and served as an outstanding role model for those both on – and off – her team. She was a leader of character with a commitment to excellence who set the example in all she did.”

“Her joy in coaching these young women made them believe in themselves and depend on each other,” said Army Athletic Director Kevin Anderson. “Her guidance not only helped them excel here, it will help them become better, more compassionate leaders.”

That sentiment was echoed by one of Army’s star basketball players, guard Cara Enright.

“I just loved the energy that coach brought to practice every day and the way she never gave up on us, always believed in us,” Enright said. “She would tell us to ‘use what you’ve learned here at the academy and apply it to basketball.’

"Coach Dixon made us love the game even more and we played our hearts out every single time we stepped on the court," Enright added. “She showed us how to be winners on the field and off.”

And that winning legacy will always be remembered, Lennox said.

“Maggie has been a credit to herself and to the mission of the U.S. Military Academy. Her presence here enriched the lives of everyone,” he added. “I will never forget the image of the cadets carrying her on their shoulders as they celebrated the team’s Patriot League championship.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and we will be forever grateful for all she has given us, both on the playing field and off,” Lennox said.

Dixon arrived just 11 days before the start of the season and took over as coach of the Army women’s basketball team. She guided them to their first Patriot League regular season and tournament titles, earning West Point its first trip to the NCAA tournament at the Division I level.