New University of Toledo running backs coach Kerry Dixon II hasn’t had much time to settle in at his new job.
After getting on campus just a few weeks ago, Dixon has been working hard to get to know his running backs group, the schemes that the Rockets run, and the intricacies of being an assistant coach at Toledo.
And while he is still catching up, spring practice started on Monday, so Dixon has had to learn on the fly a bit.
“It’s been a great transition,” Dixon said. “Everyone around here has been very helpful. It’s been fun. It’s been a lot of fun being around the guys and doing what I love. [The running backs] have also been very helpful to me because I’m new to the system. I’m learning scheme from them and signals mainly. They are kind of teaching me the terminology as I get to teach them more in depth things.”
Dixon comes to Toledo after one year of coaching wide receivers at the University of Florida, which installed a new coaching staff this season after the firing of former coach Jim McElwain. Dixon was previously a running backs coach at Florida International for three years, and before that he spent two years coaching the position at Florida Atlantic.
He replaces Marquel Blackwell, who is now the running backs coach at West Virginia.
Dixon’s coaching path crossed with UT offensive coordinator Brian Wright and UT safeties coach Ross Watson when the three were together on the staff at Florida Atlantic.
UT coach Jason Candle is confident that Dixon will transition quickly despite having little preparation time before spring practices.
“In coach Dixon’s situation, he just got here a few weeks ago, and we are ready to start spring football,” Candle said. “So it’s been a challenge, but he’s a worker, and he’s a vet, and he’s been around it, so he knows what’s asked of him. He has a really group of guys in that running back room to work with. He has guys that really have a good competitive spirit.”
Toledo loses Terry Swanson from last year’s group but returns two dynamic running backs in sophomore Shakif Seymour and junior Art Thompkins, as well as sophomore Nevone McCrimmon and talented redshirt freshman Nicholas Sims.
Seymour had a breakout year as a redshirt freshman last season with 702 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Thompkins added 629 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
“They were unbelievably talented,” Dixon said. “I watched some film of those guys. Getting to work with them on the field, they are extraordinary young men and are very talented. They were definitely at a high level. Those guys really play hard, and they understand what we are doing here. They are prepared and they continue to work hard.”
Seymour said Dixon has adjusted well to his new role at Toledo.
“With him I see energy, effort, and he wants to learn,” Seymour said. “Since he just got here we are going back and forth teaching each other. It’s actually like a refreshing thing. Since we are helping him learn and he is helping us learn, it’s like I’m learning even more.”
Thompkins also has been impressed with Dixon’s coaching style.
“My first impression of him is that he is a really cool, laid back, honest guy,” Thompkins said. “He has some energy. I’m learning from the new guy and he’s learning with us. He’s learning the system, but he’s a real smooth coach, and he’s coaching us hard, and he’s catching on real well.”
Dixon believes he has a special group of running backs to work with.
“I’m extremely excited about them,” Dixon said. “I love their work ethic. I love their character, and I’m just enjoying getting to work with a great group of young men. I just want them to get better at understanding the game a little bit more — understanding our details and our assignments. We talk about or alignment, identification, and then it’s the execution of the play.
“If we can better at those three things, I think the sky is the limit with this group.”
Contact Brian Buckey at bbuckey@theblade.com, 419-724-6110, or on Twitter @BrianBuckey.
First Published March 21, 2018, 7:00 p.m.
