2007 BYU Hall of Fame

Being one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation, Cathy Nixon committed to BYU in 1984. The four-year basketball starter was contacted by more than 40 colleges and universities prior to her decision. 

All the attention did not distract Nixon from working hard. In fact, she was called a coach's dream by former BYU women's head coach Courtney Leishman. Nixon started and ended her career strong as a Cougar. Helping BYU finish either first or second in the league during her tenure, Nixon was the fourth player in program history to score at least 1,000 points. 

As a freshman Nixon helped lead her team to the NCAA Tournament in 1985, placing 17th in the tournament. That year she received High Country Athletic Conference honorable mention, which was the first of many awards to follow. 

Throughout the following three seasons, Nixon became a six-time All-Tournament honoree, including Most Valuable Player of the 1987-88 BYU Holiday Classic. During her sophomore year, Nixon was a Kodak All-District VII selection. Honors continued the following year as she was named to the All-Rocky Mountain Region Team. 

More prestigious accolades were awarded to Nixon in 1987 and 1988 as she was named an All-American twice by the American Women Sports Federation. In 1988 Nixon received the Leona B. Holbrook Spirit of Sport Award, the highest honor BYU confers on a female athlete. 

Opponents found it difficult to stop Nixon's hot hands. At the time of her induction, she was fifth all-time at BYU in career scoring (1,771 total points) and sixth in scoring average (16.1 points per game). Her .857 single game field-goal percentage in 1985 is tied for fifth all-time at BYU with a minimum of 10 attempts. During an exciting game against Florida in 1987, Nixon reached a career high of 36 points in a single game. 

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in elementary education, Nixon served as a basketball assistant for BYU as she pursued a master's in education. But graduating with two educational degrees didn't keep Nixon from the court. In 1994 Nixon was named assistant women's basketball coach at UVSC after working with the team part-time for three years. The next year she was named the Wolverines' head coach, earning a 380-345 record in her 24 seasons at the helm. She then stepped into a role with athletic administration as the senior associate athletic director for alumni and community relations at Utah Valley.

In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Nixon has used her athletic talent to benefit the community. She was the founding partner of "Nothing But Net, Inc.," an organization that provided basketball camps for girls.

• High Country Athletic Conference honorable mention
• Averaged 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game

• Kodak All-District VII selection
• All-Conference First Team
• Averaged 16.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game

• All-Rocky Mountain Region Team
• Named to All-America Third Team by the American Women Sports Federation
• All-Conference First Team
• Averaged 17.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game

• Most Valuable Player of the 1987-88 BYU Holiday Classic
• Recipient of the Leona B. Holbrook Spirit of Sport Award, the highest honor BYU confers on a female athlete
• Named to All-America Second Team by the American Women Sports Federation
• All-Conference First Team
• Averaged 19.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game