From Emory University Athletics
Emory University men's basketball head coach Jason Zimmerman has announced the following updates to his coaching staff heading into the 2023-24 season.
Current assistant coach Jacob Fleegle will see his position elevated moving forward while former player and assistant coach Chad Hixon rejoins the staff following the recent departure of Assistant Coach Gebereal Baitey to Tulane University.
"Jacob will be taking on added responsibilities while continuing the excellent work he has done for the past two years with our program," said Zimmerman. "Jacob's organized and thorough approach to recruiting, scouting and on court coaching has continued to raise the bar for everyone around him. His care for our student athletes is visible in every decision he makes and action he takes. I look forward to working with him in this new role and watching him continue to grow in his coaching journey."
After joining the staff in August of 2021, Fleegle will see an expanded role for the upcoming season. Fleegle has helped the Eagles to an overall record of 37-15 over the past two seasons, earning berths to the NCAA tournament each season, and was part of the staff that won the program's eighth UAA championship in 2021-22.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Fleegle was a member of the coaching staffs at Juniata College, Carnegie Mellon University and his alma mater, Waynesburg University. As a player, Fleegle was a 1,000-point scorer for the Yellow Jackets and was honored three times on the PAC Academic Honor Roll. In 2015, he was selected to the CoSIDA/Capital One Division III Academic All-District Team.
Hixon returns for his second stint on the Emory coaching staff after previously serving as an assistant from 2013-14 through 2015-16. During that time, he helped the Eagles to an overall record of 61-23, two UAA championships and three straight strips to the NCAA tournament, including an Elite Eight run in his first season on staff.
Hixon has spent time as an academic advisor with Georgia State and Emory since his departure while also spending time as an assistant coach with Lakeside-Dekalb, Grady and Centennial high schools and as head coach for 17U teams at Atlanta Lightning Basketball Association, Pro Skills Basketball (PSB Atlanta) and ATL Pivot Elite. He graduated from Emory in 2010 with a degree in political science. With the Eagles, he played two seasons after joining the program after a two-year stint at Emory Oxford. He captured Honorable Mention All-UAA acclaim both seasons and was a two-time NJCAA Second Team All-America honoree at Oxford.
"We are excited to welcome Chad back to our basketball staff.," expressed Zimmerman. "His experience at Emory in the many roles he has taken on since graduation and his experience the last six years at the high school and AAU levels make him uniquely qualified to be a mentor and resource to our current student athletes and staff. Chad will continue to make an impact on the lives of student athletes both on and off the court."