BALTIMORE, MD – Johns Hopkins University Director of Athletics Jennifer S. Baker announced today that Katherine Bixby, who has served as the Blue Jay women's basketball coach for six years, has stepped down.  Bixby has accepted a position as an assistant coach with the Division I Loyola Maryland women's basketball program.

"We are truly thankful to Katherine for her six years of dedication to the Blue Jay women's basketball program, her student-athletes and Johns Hopkins University," Baker stated.  "During her time here, she has recruited, mentored and developed young women who have excelled academically at one of the nation's top universities while achieving a high level of competitive success on the court.  Loyola Maryland is gaining a passionate, successful coach who will not only help the women's basketball program reach its goals, but who will also be an excellent representative of the university."

During her six years (five seasons) at Johns Hopkins, Bixby guided the Blue Jays to a record of 100-36 (.735), including an 81-18 (.818) mark in the Centennial Conference.  The Blue Jays earned three at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament during her tenure and advanced to the second round of the tournament in 2019.  She was also named the Centennial Conference Coach of the Year in 2019.

"I am grateful for my six years at Johns Hopkins University," Bixby noted. "It has been a privilege working with such extraordinary student-athletes and I am so proud of what we accomplished during my tenure. Thank you to those student-athletes from the past six years and their families for their commitment and dedication to the program.  It has been an honor leading this program and I will always be a fan of the Blue Jays. I look forward to cheering on the outstanding student-athletes from afar as they continue to let their light shine on Johns Hopkins' campus."
 
Johns Hopkins won at least 17 games in each of her five seasons and topped the 20-win mark three times with a high of 23 victories (23-5) during the 2018-19 season.  In the last two years, the Blue Jays posted a combined record of 43-11 (.796), went 35-5 (.875) in Centennial Conference regular season play and advanced to the Centennial Conference title game in each of those two years.

Bixby coached two College Sports Communicators/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, one Jostens Trophy Finalist, one WBCA All-American, one Centennial Conference Player of the Year and 10 All-Centennial Conference selections during her tenure Johns Hopkins.

"Thank you to Director of Athletics, Jen Baker, Deputy Director of Athletics, Jake Olkkola, and Assistant Director of Athletics, Nikki Betz, for their guidance and mentorship. Thank you also to assistant coaches, Kayla Robbins, Bridget Rothert and Carolyn Smalls for their support and commitment to student-athlete mentorship. Finally, thank you to the remarkable alumnae who have dedicated their time, giving back to assist in cultivating a culture of competitive excellence and empowerment."

A national search for Bixby's replacement will begin immediately.