John Baxter Position: Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator

John Baxter, a member of the Fresno State coaching staff for the past 13 seasons, joined the USC staff in March of 2010 as the associate head coach and special teams coordinator.

In his 13 years (1997-2009) at Fresno State, he was the associate head coach and special teams coach in addition to handling either the tight ends (1997-2001, 2003, 2009) or wide receivers (2002, 2004-2008).

Baxter turned the Bulldogs' special teams into one of the top units in the nation annually. During his time, Fresno State blocked 84 kicks and punts (including a national-best 49 from 2002 through 2009) and scored 39 special teams touchdowns (with 3 safeties). The Bulldogs topped the nation in fewest punt return yards allowed in 2004 and 2005. A.J. Jefferson led the nation in kickoff returns in 2007. Clifton Smith's 189 punt return yards with 2 touchdowns against Weber State in 2005 were Fresno State game records, while his 5 career scoring punt returns also was a school mark. Six of Baxter's Bulldog kickers and punters earned All-Western Athletic Conference first team honors.

During his time at Fresno State, the Bulldogs posted a 100-66 record, played in 10 bowls (1999 Las Vegas, 2000-01-02-03 Silicon Valley, 2004 MPC Computers, 2005 AutoZone Liberty, 2007 Roady's Humanitarian and 2008-09 New Mexico) and won the WAC title in 1999.

Along with his coaching duties at Fresno State, Baxter developed the highly-successful and nationally-regarded program, "Academic Gameplan." His innovative and comprehensive study-skills program teaches students the rules, fundamentals, techniques and life skills needed to succeed in the classroom. "Academic Gameplan," which is now being used at schools throughout the country, was a key reason for the academic success of the Fresno State football program, which during Baxter's tenure produced 141 Academic All-WAC players and an NCAA APR score nearly 20 percentage points higher than the national average.

He was selected as the Clovis Co-Citizen of the Year in 2006, along with Fresno State head coach Pat Hill. Baxter, 47, has 29 years of coaching experience. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Loras College, where he served for 5 seasons (1981-85) as a student assistant (working with the running backs) during his undergraduate time.

He then moved on to Iowa State for 2 seasons (1986-87) as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line and special teams before the first of 2 stints at Arizona. He was with the Wildcats in 1988 (as a graduate assistant working with the defensive backs and special teams), went to Maine in 1989 for his first full-time job coaching the outside linebackers and special teams when the Black Bears made it to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs and returned to Arizona in 1990 and 1991as the tight ends and special teams coach (the Wildcats played in the 1990 Aloha Bowl). He then was at Maryland for 2 seasons (1992-93) handling the running backs and special teams and Tulane for 3 years (1994-96) in charge of the tight ends and special teams before going to Fresno State.

He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Loras in 1985 and then his master's in higher education from Iowa State in 1987.

He prepped at Loyola Academy in Chicago (Ill.).

He was born on June 28, 1963. He and his wife, Jill, have 2 daughters, Kelly, 14, and McKenzie, 12. His father-in-law is current Weber State head coach Ron McBride, formerly the head coach at Utah.

BAXTER SNAPSHOT

BIRTHDAY: June 28, 1963
FAMILY: Wife, Jill; Daughters, Kelly, 14, and McKenzie, 12
HIGH SCHOOL: Loyola Academy, Chicago, Ill.
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, physical education, Loras College, 1985
Master's degree, higher education, Iowa State, 1987
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: None
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 29 years