Joe Nix single-handedly put wrestling on the map for Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona in 1966.

He single-handedly put wrestling on the map and coached 11 All-Americans and led his team to the Arizona Junior College championship in 1976. Nix always prided himself on stressing rigorous studies in addition to wrestling and his teams were three-time Academic National Champions.

Prior to MCC, Nix taught and coached at Scottsdale, Arcadia and Chandler High Schools.

After graduating from Boulder High School in Boulder, Colorado, Joe Nix played football and baseball at the University of Colorado and briefly played professional baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 1951. He then served in the United States Army from 1954-57 before beginning his career as an educator and coach in 1958.

Nix served as president of the Wrestling Coaches Association in 1977-78 and is a member of the National Junior College Wrestling Hall of Fame. He received many honors during his career, including being recognized for his relentless efforts working with high school athletes. He was an ardent supporter of the Adult Women’s Active Return To Education program, including establishing a scholarship in his father's name, the Ed Nix AWARE Scholarship.

He also facilitated the construction of the Health Improvement Center at MCC, working alongside his best friends and fellow MCC Hall of Famers Theo Heap and Carvel Jackson. The project was built at no cost to taxpayers, all volunteer associates of Nix.

Nix's business card read "Nix is the Name ... Wrestling's the Game ... Mesa's the School ... Wrestler's My Tools".