University of Portland Athletics

Jeff Baxter brought the Portland Volleyball program to new heights during the 2018 campaign, his first season as the University of Portland’s Head Coach after being promoted from an assistant in January of 2018. He led the Pilots to their most wins in a single season (20), their longest winning streak (12 straight victories), and their best start in program history (12-0). Their early season success earned them four votes in the week four AVCA Coaches Poll, the first time the program had ever received votes.

The Pilots impressive season resulted in Portland’s first trip to the postseason, qualifying for the National Invitational Volleyball Challenge (NIVC). They defeated Northern Colorado in the first round, and outlasted Utah Valley in five sets in a thrilling match to advance to the quarterfinal round.

Baxter spent the past two seasons as the team’s top assistant, helping the team to its top second and third records in school history. Baxter joined the University of Portland in the spring of 2016. In addition to coaching and teaching volleyball, Baxter’s main responsibilities were game analytics, video, and scouting, as well as serving as the Head Coach for the UP Beach Volleyball team.
 
"Jeff is ready for this opportunity," Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam said. "He checked all of the boxes as we went through this coaching search and will continue the progress that the program has made in recent years. We wanted to maintain the team culture, hire an excellent teacher of the game, and bring in a hard-working, competitive person that understands what it takes to be successful here at Portland. Jeff has helped build the foundation of our program and now he gets to shape the next era of UP volleyball. The team and entire Athletic Department are excited for Jeff and the volleyball program."
 
In his first three seasons on The Bluff, Baxter helped coach the team to several impressive feats, including:

• 2016 3rd Place Finish in the WCC
• Entered postseason play for first-time, reaching NIVC Quarterfinals
• First-ever program wins over a Top 10 opponent (#7 USD, 11/10/16), and over a Top 15 opponent (#11 BYU, 10/13/16)
• Received AVCA Coaches Poll votes for first time during week four of 2018 season
• Winningest season since joining the WCC (20 wins 2018)
• Opened 2018 season with a 12-match winning streak
• Most conference wins in WCC-era (10, 2016)
• One First-Team All-WCC Selection (Hannah Troutman 16’)
• One All-Freshman Team Selection (Cali Thompson, 16’)
• Two Honorable-Mention WCC Selection (Katie Barker, 18’. Katie Sullivan, 16’)  
 
As a player, Baxter was a setter at Cal State Northridge from 2006-11 where he helped the Matadors to a NCAA Final Four appearance in 2010. In 2011 he transitioned from player to assistant coach where he helped the team to a top-15 ranking in each of the three years on staff. With the Matadors his primary responsibilities were recruiting, scouting opponents, and setter coach.
 
After three years at Cal State Northridge, he transferred to the women's game where he began working at Loyola Marymount. He helped guide the Lions to a third-place finish in the West Coast Conference, a ranking of No. 26 in the RPI, and a NCAA sweet 16 appearance. He worked with live coding, DataVolley, DataVideo, and statistics, while also helping to coach setters, passers, and back row defenders.
 
In addition to his work on the collegiate level, he has worked with the USA Women's Volleyball Team. In the camps that he has attended his primary roles were focused on research and aid with in-practice help.