He served as the head football coach at Ohio State University for one season in 1946 and at Colgate University from 1947 to 1951, compiling a career record of 18–30–4.

Bixler was also the head basketball coach at the University of Akron (1936–1939) and Colgate (1939–1941), tallying a mark of 52–27.

He later served as director of player personnel for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL).

Bixler was a 1929 graduate of Mount Union College where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and played guard and fullback on the football team.

Bixler was the 24th head football coach at Colgate University located in Hamilton, New York and he held that position for five seasons, from 1947 until 1951.