Fresno State Athletics
Baxter Takes Life Away From Football Seriously
12/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 16, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - - In the middle for the intense, hard-nosed brand of football the Bulldogs have become known for, you'll find special teams coach John Baxter. He's on the field, teaching and coaching. In meetings he's acting as not only a leader to those who follow him, but also as a supporting mentor to his student-athletes in academics and in life. It's a job he's embraced for 13 years at Fresno State.
But outside of football, Baxter leads a life much different from his duties as a college football coach, and he likes it that way.
"I have five acres of land in Clovis that I've worked to build," said Baxter. "I have a ranch with horses, goats and I've done a great deal of building of things that are functional for my land. I love to be home and I enjoy tinkering with things and always have."
In the summer of 2001, Baxter broke his arm after being bucked off a horse on his ranch. Unable to partake in his typical interests, namely golf, he become interested in the art of welding, a hobby that immediately got his creative juices surging.
"It took me roughly two 18-hour days to learn welding," said Baxter. "My neighbor and I struck a 100 dollar contest to see who could build a barbecue the fastest."
From deep pit barbecues to ranch hardware, Baxter began designing and welding a vast spectrum of useful, functional tools and artwork he uses every day.
His artwork has also seen influence from football with his own version of the Heisman Trophy named the "Nice-man" trophy, which is a happy face head welded to a metal body that stands on a shelf in his office at Fresno State. In addition, he has made horse shoes, paper towel holders out of hammer heads and, of course, a large metal Bulldog that hangs on his ranch gate. He has even dabbled in wood work, combining wood and metal together to create furniture for his home.
"I mostly make projects for my neighbors and friends," said Baxter. "I also built an arena for our horses as well as a soccer field for my two daughters on the property. When I'm welding I like to listen to music really loud and melt metal. It's the only way to do it."
Baxter's love of outdoors also led him to an interest in JV team roping and horses, a passion he has strived to share and instill in his daughters, opportunities he believes are a must for his family. He doesn't enjoy taking traditional vacations, as he would rather stay at home with his family in his spare time.
"I enjoy taking my daughters up to Sequoia with our horses to ride," said Baxter. "My daughters have raised steers and goats since they were little and I think it's a great way to teach them about biology, chemistry and finances all at once. I want to give them an upbringing that they deserve."
But when it comes to coaching football, it's all about work. And the distinction is something Baxter knows flawlessly.
"When I am home, I am at home," said Baxter. "There is a no football talk in my house. I like to be a dad when I am at home and when football is in season, it's all about football and being that good coach."
And a respectable coach he is, leading the Dogs' special teams units that rank among best in the nation. Baxter's teams have produced All-America and record setting returns specialists like Clifton Smith and A.J. Jefferson, outstanding kickers and punters like Asen Asparuhov, Brett Visintainer, Clint Stitser, Robert Malone and Kevin Goessling.
He's also the mastermind behind system that has produced a league-best 123 academic All-WAC players, three Academic All-Americans and two National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete award winners. In addition to his successes on the field, Baxter has reached numbers as the author of his highly successful program, the "Academic GamePlan", which he says is a humble attempt to teach life skills, rules and fundamentals to student-athletes.
His program now reaches over 1,000 student-athletes every semester.
When the action is over with the conclusion of the Bulldog's season on Saturday at the New Mexico Bowl, it's back to his Oasis, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
And he appreciates everything he has with his own philosophy toward life, "attitude with gratitude".
This article was orginially published by Laura Hachman for the Official Sports Report. To sign up for the Official Sports Report log onto officialsportsreport.com.
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