John Baxter - Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

John Baxter

Title:
Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
Phone:
559-278-3015

THE BAXTER FILE

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
High School: Loyola Academy
Family
- Wife: Jill
- Daughters: Kelly, McKenzie

EDUCATION
Loras College
- Bachelors in Physical Education (1985)
Iowa State
- Masters in Higher Education (1987)

COACHING HISTORY
Fresno State
2024: Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
2022-23: Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/
Tight Ends
USC
2018: Special Teams Coordinator
2016-17: Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
Michigan
2015: Special Teams Coordinator
USC
2013: Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/ TE
2010-12: Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
Fresno State
2009: Associate Head Coach/Special Teams/TE
2004-08: Associate Head Coach/Special Teams/WR
2003: Associate Head Coach/Special Teams/TE
2002: Associate Head Coach/Special Teams/WR
1997-01: Associate Head Coach/Special Teams/TE
Tulane
1994-96: Tight Ends/Special Teams
Maryland
1992-93: Running Backs/Special Teams
Arizona
1990-91: Tight Ends/Special Teams
Maine
1989: Outside Linebackers/Special Teams
Arizona
1988: Graduate Assistant/DB/Special Teams
Iowa State
1986-87: Graduate Assistant/DL/Special Teams
Loras College
1981-85: Student Assistant/RB

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
None.

Last Updated: January 6, 2025

John Baxter, known for producing extremely productive special teams units and also for working with tight ends for nearly half of his coaching career, joined the Bulldogs ahead of the 2022 season as the special teams coordinator. Baxter was named the Bulldogs associate head coach, special teams coordinator and tight ends coach by then-head coach Jeff Tedford on December 23, 2021.

Baxter, with 40 years of coaching on his resume, has experience coaching special teams, tight ends, wide receivers, running backs, linebackers and the defensive line.

In his Fresno State coaching career, Baxter has been the special teams coach for eight of the program's 11 kickoffs returned for touchdowns with the most recent coming in 2023 with a 95-yard return against Boise State by Malik Sherrod. It was Fresno State's first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2008.

In the program's history, Baxter has coached the 'Dogs in 18 of 42 punt returns for touchdowns, seven of 14 blocked punts returned for touchdowns, four of six blocked field goals returned for touchdowns and one of two PAT returns for two points.

Baxter coached new kick returner Jalen Moss, who, entering 2024, had not returned any sort of kick in his collegiate career. Moss finished the 2024 season with 18 punt returns for 231 yards and one touchdown, and 15 kickoff returns for 228 yards. He led the Mountain West in combined kick returns, and ranked No. 23 in the FBS. Moss was a second team All-MW punt returner. Moss became the first punt return selection for the Bulldogs since Nikko Remigio in 2022, Baxter's first season back on staff. Moss is just the second returner all-conference selection since the Bulldogs entered the Mountain West in 2012.

In 2023, his tight ends were important pieces to the offense and on special teams with four tight ends appearing in all 13 games on the year. Tre Watson earned honorable mention All-Mountain West honors as he led the group with 38 receptions for 378 yards and four touchdowns.

The special teams units ranked in the Top 5 in the Mountain West in kickoff returns and punt returns. Kicker Dylan Lynch was named a Lou Groza award semifinalist. Lynch tied the program record with five made field goals at Arizona State (Sept. 16). He set a new program record that night with seven field goal attempts. Lynch became the first Bulldog kicker to has two 50-yard field goals in a season since 2010.

The 2022 season at Fresno State was a memorable one as the Bulldogs became the first program in FBS history to start the season 1-4, and finish with 10 wins. Fresno State ended the year on a nine-game winning streak, and won the 2022 Mountain West Championship and the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.

In his first season back with the Bulldogs, Baxter did just what was expected with the special teams units. Fresno State’s special teams ranked No. 15 overall in the FBS, according to Football Outsiders and its efficiency index ratings.

Fresno State led the FBS, averaging 19.92 yards per punt return in 2022. Behind the legs of senior returner Nikko Remigio, Fresno State totaled 13 punt returns for 259 yards. Remigio returned two punt returns for touchdowns in 2022, marking the first time Fresno State had a punt return taken back for a touchdown since 2013. Fresno State was one of 14 schools across the FBS to have multiple punt return touchdowns.

The senior Bulldog also was Fresno State’s primary kickoff returner with 21 returns for 480 yards. Remigio was third in the FBS in combined kick returns, totaling 739 return yards. He is Fresno State’s top returner since 2013. Under Baxter’s coaching, Remigio loaded up the postseason honors as a returner as he was selected as a second team All-MW punt returner, a first team All-MW punt returner (Phil Steele), fourth team All-MW kickoff returner (Phil Steele) and an honorable mention All-American punt returner (Phil Steele).

The Bulldogs led the Mountain West in kickoff returns, totaling 82 kickoffs for 3,409 yards. Fresno State averaged 41.57 kickoff return yards per game in 2022. Remigio led the team, but Malik Sherrod had the longest return of the year at 50 yards. It was Fresno State’s longest kickoff return since 2018. Fresno State ranked No. 26 in the FBS in kickoff returns.

Fresno State blocked two punts and one PAT to rank inside the Top 20 nationally in blocked kicks. Both of the Bulldogs’ blocked punts this season were in the same game. The blocked punts that game marked the first time since 2018 that Fresno State had a blocked punt in a game.

Special teams played a critical role in the Bulldogs’ dramatic win over San Diego State as the game came down to the final possession that would require a successfully recovered onside kick attempt by the Bulldogs, and the Bulldogs’ kickoff team got it done. Zane Pope recovered the onside kick attempt, marking the first time a Bulldogs had a successful onside kick attempt since 2015.

Kicker Abraham Montano tied the program record with six field goals attempted against Oregon State. Montano made four of six attempts in the matchup, just one made field goal shy of the program record.

Fresno State’s tight ends totaled 34 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. Senior Raymond Pauwels Jr. was selected as an All-Mountain West honorable mention tight end.

Prior to his arrival at Fresno State, Baxter coached the special teams and tight ends at USC from 2016-19.

In 2018, USC blocked 2 field goals and 2 punts (1 returned for a TD) to rank ninth nationally in blocked kicks and Troy also returned another punt for a touchdown.

In 2017, USC blocked 3 field goals and a punt, had 2 scoring punt returns and ranked 11^thnationally in blocked kicks and 18^thin punt returns. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. made All-Pac-12 first team as a special teams player. Blind long snapper Jake Olson had historic snaps on the final PATs in the Western Michigan and Oregon State games. USC’s tight ends had 37 receptions with 5 TDs. USC played in the 2017 Cotton Bowl.

In 2016, USC ranked fourth among all schools in FootballOutsiders.com’s Special Teams Efficiency rating. USC was sixth nationally in punt returns and 23^rdin blocked kicks, blocked punts and kickoff returns. USC blocked 2 field goals and a punt and allowed only 8 of its 50 punts to be returned (for just 50 yards). Placekicker Matt Boermeester’s 18 field goals were one shy of the school record, he kicked a Rose Bowl record-tying 3 field goals (including the game-winner at the gun) and he had 43 touchbacks (USC had just 11 in 2015). Returner Adoree’ Jackson, who had 2 punt return TDs and 2 kickoff return TDs, was named an All-American first teamer by some selectors as a punt returner, won the Jet Award as the nation’s top punt returner and was an NFL Draft first rounder. USC tight ends caught 39 passes.

Baxter was Michigan’s special teams coordinator in 2015. The Wolverines finished 12^thnationally in ESPN’s special teams efficiency ranking (they were No. 1 two-thirds of the way into the season) after being 96^ththe previous year. Michigan was third nationally in kickoff returns, Jabrill Peppers was 19^thin punt returns, Jehu Chesson returned a kickoff for a TD, UM allowed only 3 kickoff returns longer than 30 yards, Blake O’Neill had a Michigan Stadium record 80-yard punt and 43% of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line and Kenny Allen hit 18-of-22 field goals and 44% of his kickoffs were touchbacks (O’Neill and Allen entered the season as non-scholarship players). Michigan won the 2016 Citrus Bowl.

Baxter, 56, spent 4 years (2010-13) at USC as the associate head coach and special teams coordinator. He added the tight ends to his coaching duties in 2013.

In 2013, fullback Soma Vainuku made the All-Pac-12 first team as a special teams player and Nelson Agholor was an All-American second team pick as a punt returner. USC blocked 6 kicks, returned 3 punts for TDs in a game to tie an NCAA record and allowed no punt return yards in 8 games. The Trojans won the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl.

In 2012, USC ranked ninth nationally on ESPN’s special teams efficiency chart. Punter Kyle Negrete was a finalist for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. USC played in the 2012 Sun Bowl.

Baxter was named the 2011 FootballScoop.com Special Teams Coordinator of the Year. For the second consecutive year, USC blocked 7 kicks in 2011. The Trojans also had a scoring kickoff return, made a 2-point conversion and converted a fake punt for a first down while ranking No. 8 nationally in special teams efficiency by ESPN. In 2011, placekicker Andre Heidari made Freshman All-American first team and All-Pac-12 first team, and his 88.2% field goal percentage was third in the nation among kickers with at least 10 made field goals (and the best among freshmen kickers). Tight end-fullback Rhett Ellison made the All-Pac-12 first team as a special teams performer.

In 2010, USC’s special teams blocked 7 kicks and punts, returned a punt and kickoff for a touchdown, scored 5 times on 2-point conversions, had a defensive PAT and made first downs on a fake punt and fake field goal. Troy was seventh nationally in ESPN’s special teams efficiency ranking. USC ranked high nationally in punt returns (seventh at 14.6) and kickoff returns (17^that 24.5) with wide receiver Ronald Johnson placing 12^thnationally in punt returns (14.2). Wide receiver Robert Woods made the All-Pac-10 first team as a kick returner. Johnson was a sixth round pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

In 13 years (1997-2009) at Fresno State, Baxter 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 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 1991 as 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 two daughters, Kelly and McKenzie. His father-in-law is former Utah and Weber State head coach Ron McBride.