Fresno State Hires New Offensive Coordinator, Keeps John Baxter

Fresno State Sports

By Steven Sanchez

Published 5 months ago on

December 26, 2024

Fresno State football head coach Matt Entz retains special teams coordinator John Baxter (left) and hires new offensive coordinator Josh Davis from the University of South Dakota. (GV Wire Composite/David Rodriguez)

Josh Davis joins Fresno State as offensive coordinator after leading South Dakota to FCS playoff semifinal appearance.
Fresno State's offense struggled in 2024, ranking 132 in fourth-quarter scoring.
John Baxter retains his position as special teams coordinator, bringing 40 years of coaching experience to the role.

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Fresno State football head coach Matt Entz announced on Thursday that he’s bringing in Josh Davis as the new offensive coordinator while keeping John Baxter onboard as the special teams boss. Davis replaces former coordinator and wide receivers coach Pat McCann.

Davis was the offensive coordinator at the University of South Dakota on 2023 and 2024, leading the Coyotes to their first-ever FCS playoff semifinal appearance. South Dakota had the No. 5 total offense in the FCS, averaging 419.3 yards per game this season.

Under Davis, South Dakota featured running backs Charles Pierre Jr. (1,244 yards) and Travis Theis (1,194 yards).

He served as the pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach for a South Dakota State team that made the FCS national championship in 2022. Davis had a previous stint there as the wideouts coach for the Jackrabbits (2009-15). He played for and graduated from South Dakota.

Davis spent six years (2016-2022) at Northwestern (Iowa) College as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. They were a perennial top-10 NAIA program, reaching the national championship game in 2021. After going 3-7 in his first season, the Red Raiders accumulated a 51-10 overall record over the next five seasons.

Offensive Struggles Prompt Change

McCann became the Bulldogs passing game coordinator in 2022 — a season in which they ranked first or second in several Mountain West passing categories.

He became the main offensive player caller the next year, leading them to a No. 2 pass ranking in the conference.

However, in 2024, Fresno State’s offense stalled despite having Mikey Keene at quarterback and a solid wide receiving corps. The Bulldogs ranked No. 83 in points and No. 111 in yards while relying on a conservative offensive philosophy.

The most telling stat: third-to-last nationally in fourth-quarter scoring.

Baxter Continues as Special Teams Coordinator

Baxter, who coached under Pat Hill in his first stint with the Bulldogs, has 40 years of coaching experience, and is known as a special teams guru. He has also coached at USC and Michigan.