Fresno State Athletics
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Tedford announces staff updates
1/31/2022 4:10:00 PM | Football
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State football head coach Jeff Tedford announced changes to his coaching staff on Monday, naming John Baxter the Bulldogs' new tight ends coach and Jim Nelson a defensive assistant coach with the nickelbacks. The staff adjustments come following the departure of former tight ends coach Roman Sapolu.
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Baxter, who Tedford announced as associate head coach and special teams coordinator on Dec. 23, will add on the role and take over the tight ends position group. Baxter has extensive history with coaching tight ends, having coached the position at Arizona, Tulane, USC and during his first tenure while on staff at Fresno State.
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Nelson, who has served as a defensive quality control assistant on the Fresno State staff since 2020, is announced as a defensive assistant coach for the nickelbacks for the 2022 season. Monday's announcement marks Nelson's first full-time assistant coaching position in his career. Prior to joining the Fresno State staff, he had stops at Indiana (2017-19), North Carolina State (2016), South Florida (2015), Central Missouri (2013-14) and Montana State (2012). The Wheaton, Ill. native has coaching experience with several defensive position groups.
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Tedford also added a staff member to the football recruiting office, hiring Anthony Mauro as the Director of Scouting. Mauro comes to Fresno State after most recently serving as the assistant recruiting director at Louisiana Tech in 2021. Prior to his stint at Louisiana Tech, he spent two years at McNeese State (FCS) as a recruiting and defensive analyst. There, he was a part of gathering the best recruiting class in program history. Mauro graduated from the University of Iowa in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in sports management, and a minor in political science.
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Fresno State's coaching staff is boasted by the assistance of graduate assistants Matt Smith (offense), Braelon Roberts (offense), Patrick Belony (defense) and Ben Watkins (defense), and offensive quality control Matt Wade and special teams quality control Matt Phipps.
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"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
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Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateFB
Instagram: Fresno_State_Football
Facebook: FresnoStateFootball
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Baxter, who Tedford announced as associate head coach and special teams coordinator on Dec. 23, will add on the role and take over the tight ends position group. Baxter has extensive history with coaching tight ends, having coached the position at Arizona, Tulane, USC and during his first tenure while on staff at Fresno State.
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Nelson, who has served as a defensive quality control assistant on the Fresno State staff since 2020, is announced as a defensive assistant coach for the nickelbacks for the 2022 season. Monday's announcement marks Nelson's first full-time assistant coaching position in his career. Prior to joining the Fresno State staff, he had stops at Indiana (2017-19), North Carolina State (2016), South Florida (2015), Central Missouri (2013-14) and Montana State (2012). The Wheaton, Ill. native has coaching experience with several defensive position groups.
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Tedford also added a staff member to the football recruiting office, hiring Anthony Mauro as the Director of Scouting. Mauro comes to Fresno State after most recently serving as the assistant recruiting director at Louisiana Tech in 2021. Prior to his stint at Louisiana Tech, he spent two years at McNeese State (FCS) as a recruiting and defensive analyst. There, he was a part of gathering the best recruiting class in program history. Mauro graduated from the University of Iowa in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in sports management, and a minor in political science.
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Fresno State's coaching staff is boasted by the assistance of graduate assistants Matt Smith (offense), Braelon Roberts (offense), Patrick Belony (defense) and Ben Watkins (defense), and offensive quality control Matt Wade and special teams quality control Matt Phipps.
Â
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Â
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateFB
Instagram: Fresno_State_Football
Facebook: FresnoStateFootball
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