Dave Hixenbaugh

Dave Hixenbaugh graduated from Taylorville High School in 1963 and participated in football, basketball and track earning seven varsity letters. Hixenbaugh is being honored as a friend of Sports for his active involvement after his high school years. Following graduation from college, Hixenbaugh coached in the Red Bland Little League, Biddy Basketball and the newly formed 7th and 8th grade flag football programs. In 1970, during his first years as a fifth grade teacher at West School, he became directly involved with the development of the Taylorville Elementary Track Meet originally for 5th and 6th grade students. Working with Elementary P.E. teacher, Jon Ulz, he assisted in developing a competitive format including the four city elementary school. Hixenbaugh has coached or helped administer in every meet for all of its 36 years.     During the 1980s, Hixenbaugh served as Chairman of the Christian County YMCA Soccer Committee (1982- 1988), and was a member of the Red Bland Little League Board of Directors (1985 –1988).     He became junior varsity and assistant varsity football coach at Taylorville High School from 1970 through the 1977 season. In 1975 he also became the Tornadoes assistant track coach and helped guide Taylorville to the Mid State Conference Championship. He also founded and for a short time, coached a girls AAU track team and took many young athletes to the Junior Olympic trials.    In 1979, Hixenbaugh became the first coach of the Taylorville Lady Tornadoes Basketball Program and guided the girls to an 8 and 6 record in their first season The following year the lady Tornadoes won 19 games against 5 losses and pick up Taylorville’s first regional Title. Following the 1981 season, Hixenbaugh was selected Decatur Herald and Review Area Class AA Coach of the Year.

In 1985 Hixenbaugh was ask to administer the Junior Tornadoes Basketball program, which he did until 2000. During his fifteen year tenure, the program expanded to include 5th and 6th grade girls and 7th and 8th grade boys. Also in 1985, Hixenbaugh became the public address announcer for the Taylorville Football Program, a job he continues today.

In 1995 Hixenbaugh initiated the formation of the Taylorville High School Sports Hall of Fame and has served as its chairman since its inception.