USC hires longtime Fresno St. assistant coach John Baxter as associate head coach

USC hires longtime Fresno St. assistant Baxter

LOS ANGELES — Longtime Fresno State assistant coach John Baxter is leaving the Bulldogs to become Lane Kiffin’s associate head coach and special teams coordinator at Southern California.

Kiffin announced the latest addition to his coaching staff Thursday.

Baxter spent the last 13 seasons as Pat Hill’s right-hand man at Fresno State, coaching the Bulldogs’ perennially outstanding special-teams units and spending time as their tight ends and receivers coach. He also developed a nationally praised program to teach academic study skills to his players.

Kiffin still hasn’t hired an offensive coordinator nearly two months after he left Tennessee to return to USC.