Just as his counterpart at Pittsburgh is doing, Jim Harbaugh is zeroing in on filling the remaining holes in his first Michigan coaching staff.
UM announced early Friday afternoon via a press release that veteran assistant John Baxter has been hired as the Wolverines’ special teams coordinator. This upcoming season will serve as a return to the collegiate level after one year away for the assistant.
“John Baxter has long been considered one of the premier special teams coordinators in the country and I am thrilled to have him on our staff,” said Harbaugh in a statement. “His special teams units have consistently been a force to be reckoned with. In addition to his success on the field, I am confident that John’s innovative ‘Academic Gameplan’ will be a great resource to our young men in the classroom.”
“To have an opportunity to coach at this school with this head coach, at this time, might be the greatest opportunity in all of football today,” Baxter said. “I am really excited to learn about our players and to answer the challenge that Big Ten football presents in terms of competitive excellence and special teams.”
Baxter spent 2010-13 as special teams coordinator at USC. Prior to that, Baxter spent 13 seasons at Fresno State, where he served as 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 becomes the second former assistant hired by Harbaugh, joining Tim Drevno. Exactly a week ago, Drevno was hired as the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator and line coach.
