Juan Dixon on the Buzz Williams era of Maryland basketball, Shell Shock, aspirations for TBT Tournament

Ahmed Ghafir
Jun 19
7 min read

Juan Dixon, former Maryland basketball star and current head coach of the Shell Shock TBT team, talks about the Buzz Williams era of Maryland basketball, his aspirations for the TBT Tournament and more on GCR:

On the urge for more Maryland basketball alum to remain involved in the program

“It's very important. Just over the years since Coach Williams retired, I don't think a lot of former players felt like they were a part of what Maryland men's basketball was doing. And it's nothing against [Mark] Turgeon, nothing against [Kevin] Willard, but we also have to show a united front to the head coaches that we're here to support them and help them feel as comfortable as possible. And with this TBT Shell Shock, that's exactly what we're doing. We're trying to uplift our program when it comes to the former players, all these greats that came to University of Maryland to form this coalition to do something special when it comes to Maryland basketball. Letting everyone know - whether it's alumni, student body, fans, administration - that the former players love Maryland athletics. We love Maryland at the institution, but we really, really worked hard during our times as Maryland basketball players to help this rich program get to where it is. So we're here to support coach Buzz [Williams] any way we can and we want to just show folks that we're going to show a united front as former players when it comes to the support of Maryland basketball.”

On the chance to raise NIL money through the TBT Tournament

“That's the goal, man. That's all these former players that came through, alumni - we want everyone to feel like they are part of this coalition, what we're building with this brotherhood. And the goal eventually is to assist with NIL when it comes to Maryland basketball, going out, getting some of these best players throughout college basketball and in high school.”

On Dixon’s role with the TBT team

“Absolutely. And it started with Nima Omidvar. He started this Shell Shock organization a few years ago. And Matt Raydo and Dave Neal, they have assisted Nima up until this point. And then from there, Matt and Dave Neal reached out to me and Nima and they talked about me coming on board, being a head coach. And then they reached out to all the other former players, Joe Smith, Byron Mouton, Andre Collins, Sean Mosley and Travis Garrison. Now it trickled down to us getting former players to understand the bigger picture when it comes to competing in a TBT. Yes, do we want to go out and win? Yes. Do we want to show folks that we have Maryland guys that that that once has a future in coaching? Absolutely. But most importantly, it's about building this brotherhood up, this coalition, so that we're all working toward the common goal and that's helping Maryland basketball to achieve another national title. That's what this is all about. It's simply about helping Maryland basketball elevate to a top-ten program consistently, year in and year out, and hopefully we can help coach Buzz and his team win a national championship in the near future.”

On the need to have Maryland representation in the program

“Len wrote an unbelievable letter, referencing that we do need former players involved in the program. But we all know as former players that this program is Buzz Williams’ program. Buzz Williams is going to do what's best for his program, his players and the future of Maryland basketball. So I don't want anyone to think we're trying to like force our way to be part of coach Buzz’s team. We just want to let folks know that we have Maryland former players out here coaching, doing a hell of a job. You think about what Duane Simpson did. Dave Dickerson has been in the business for many, many years and he's over at Ohio State. I know when I think about John Auslander, who's over at Towson, who I coached with for many years at Coppin State. Steve Blake and of course, I want to get involved Andre Collins. So it’s coaches out here that's more than capable of help Maryland basketball get back to the level where coach Buzz wants it to. So it's just a matter of us coming together, working as one, support one another, and hopefully in the future, coach Buzz trust us enough to know that we are about his vision. We want to be a part of his team. Because there's no doubt that when it comes to coaching Glenn, it's my purpose and my passion. It's my why. I was very fortunate to play basketball for many years. But when it comes to understanding the game, understanding young people, working hard. Like I know what it looks like. Dave Dickinson knows what it looks like. Simpkins, Auslander, I could go on down the line. We all know what that looks like. So whenever that happens in the future, it's great. But yes, with TBT and the Shell Shock, we're going to show that we're willing to work as one, but at the same time, put these coaches out there, put these players out there that we can compete and coach at a high level.”

On Dixon’s first conversations with Buzz Williams

“I had a brief conversation with him. I did express to him that I would love to be a part of his team and what he's building at Maryland. But coach Buzz has been busy getting his staff together. He's been busy getting his roster in order. That's important. College basketball at a different place than it was when I played. So he had to find 13 to 15 new players and we understand how busy he is. We all understand he has a fifth assistant coach position still available. Would I love to be a part of that? Absolutely. Would Greivis or Blake down the line? Absolutely, but we're going to do what's best for our program. We're going to do what's best when it comes to the support of coach Buzz and helping him get to a place where Maryland basketball is respected as one of the top-ten, top 20 programs in the country, year in and year out. That's what we're all about. We're about the student athletes, helping them develop at a high level, not just on the floor, but however we as former players off the floor when it comes to their development.”

On Darryl Morsell, Melo Trimble joining the Shell Shock team

“It's very important. Those two guys are legends when it comes to Maryland basketball. They left it all out on the floor. We all know what Melo and Darryl have done over the years, but most importantly, those guys are still playing pro basketball at a high level. I know Melo just won his second championship in a row in Russia. A big part of them having success, winning MVP, everything we're doing, TBT, it's going to be predicated around putting the right pieces around Melo Trimble, around Darryl Morsell. Of course, we want to continue to add former players and legends to this roster. But you need to step out and get people who've been citizens in Maryland, like an Anthony Tarke who I coached at Coppin State for many years, played in the NBA…like we have an opportunity to build an unbelievable roster and go out and compete for a million dollars. And I'll go as a staff – myself, Joe Smith, John Auslander, Andre Collins, Bryon Mouton, Kent Auslander, we want to put these young men in positions to be successful, make sure they compete at a high level on both ends of the floor and go out and win games. Because towards the end of July, Glenn TBT is pretty much the only basketball on outside of the WNBA. It's going to be folks watching TBT and Melo Trimble could get an opportunity for the NBA roster. You just never know. I remember coaching Mike James many years back in the TBT and he ended up on the NBA roster after that summer. So anything can happen. We're looking to put a great product on the floor, play a high-level brand of basketball on both ends, and see what happens.”

Whether the Elam Ending has a spot in basketball

“I've been a part of the Elam ending. I told you I was fortunate enough to coach Mike James, that unbelievable team back in 2019. We made it to the Final Four in 2019, lost to a really good Marquette team. But Mike James hit a couple budget beaters [in the] Elam endings. Like we needed one more point, and we're up one, and he's [shooting] a pull-up, fading going left. So the Elam ending brings a different excitement to the end of the game. It's more it takes intensity to another level because if you're down by eightt going into the Elam engine, you still have an opportunity if you can string together three stops in a row, four stops in a row. You still have a chance to win that game. I love it, omes down to execution, and winning on the defensive end.”

On Steve Blake’s son, Nick, playing for Maryland and whether Corey Dixon will go to Maryland

“Yeah, and that will be wild. Full Circle. I'm so happy for Blake and his family. I was actually Corey, we got opportunity to meet them. They were down, I think it was Memphis playing in the basketball tournament as well. And it was just like, damn man. Like, it'd be crazy if Corey gets an opportunity to play alongside Nick and those guys, put on a Maryland Jersey. I know I would have tears coming out my eyes. But on our end, we have a long way to go. I'm just literally, I wake my boys up every morning. We in the gym, 5:30 in the morning, get in the gym, get in the gym, get in the weight room, and we just getting home. So Corey understands the work he needs to put in to get to that level and he has to earn the trust of coach Buzz and his staff because those Buzz players compete at the highest level. They play hard, but you also need to be talented and play the game the right way on both ends of the floor, so it's a process that we trust. And I do believe that Corey will be high major when all said and done.”

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