Juan Dixon's nearly two-decade association with the University of Maryland men's basketball program has ended.
Dixon, who came to College Park in 1997 as a 145-pound redshirt freshman and led the Terps to their only national championship five years later, did not have his position renewed as special assistant to coach Mark Turgeon.
Two sources with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday that Dixon, 37, would not return for a fourth season. The decision was reached amicably, though it was not by Dixon's choice.
"He was relieved of his duties," one of the sources said.
Neither Turgeon nor Dixon have commented publicly about the move yet.
Turgeon had created the position for Dixon to help him transition into coaching after his seven-year NBA career had ended, an athletic department source said. He was considered an at-will employee of the university, meaning he could be let go at any time. The university's calendar year ended June 30.
In the role of special assistant, Dixon was prohibited by NCAA rules to recruit, offer in-game strategy on the bench or work with the players during or outside of practice. His role was more involved with mentoring playing, providing some academic support and doing advance scouting.
According to figures released by the university earlier this year, Dixon was making a little over $60,000, a fraction what Turgeon's three full-time assistants _ Bino Ranson, Dustin Clark and Cliff Warren _ are making.
A source within the department said Turgeon was not planning any changes on his staff and that Dixon wanted to be more involved in the day-to-day operation of the program. The source added that Turgeon has encouraged Dixon to seek a full-time assistant's job at another Division I school.
Dixon's hiring in November 2013 was announced on the same day that Dalonte Hill, who had joined the staff when Turgeon was hired to replace Gary Williams in 2011, was fired following his second drunk-driving arrest.
Since Dixon was announced as Turgeon's special assistant _ a role similar to one that former Kansas star Danny Manning, now the head coach at Wake Forest, held for seven years under Bill Self in Lawrence before becoming a full-time assistant _ Turgeon has had only one opening on his full-time staff.
It came when Scott Spinelli left to become an assistant at Boston College. Warren, who had been initially hired as the director of basketball operations, was quickly promoted to assistant coach. Warren, who grew up in Silver Spring and played at Mount St. Mary's, had been a head coach at Jacksonville for nine seasons.
Dixon, who returned to Maryland to get his degree after his professional career ended with a brief stay in Europe, remains one of the most beloved figures in the history of the program, as well as its all-time leading scorer.
