(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University has named Surina R. Dixon as head women’s basketball coach.

Dixon, a Mississippi native, comes to Jackson State from Southwind High School in Memphis where she compiled a 67-20 overall record over three seasons as head basketball coach. She brings over 20 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I and II levels.Dixon

She is familiar with the SWAC having served as head coach at Texas Southern University in 2008 where she was fired before ever coaching a game. Last August, she was awarded $730,000 by a jury after filing a federal lawsuit in which she claimed her firing was retaliation for complaining about gender discrimination regarding her contract.

From 2005 to 2007, Dixon was the head coach for Lane College in Jackson, Tenn. During her tenure, the Lady Dragons posted one of the highest grade point averages and most wins in over a decade.

Prior to Lane College, Dixon spent four seasons as the head coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). While at UMES, she recorded three straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament first round wins, and her Lady Hawks teams graduated at a 99 percent rate.

Before UMES, Dixon served as the head assistant coach at Arkansas State University, where she helped lead the Lady Indians to their best start in school history and their first top 25 national ranking. Dixon also worked as the assistant coach at Texas Southern University, where she helped guide the Lady Tigers to their best finish in over a decade.

Before joining the collegiate ranks, Dixon was a successful coach in the Memphis school district. At Germantown Middle School, she won eight district and six county championships and a run of five undefeated seasons. While at Germantown, she posted a 165-29 overall record.