Head coach JR Blount and the San Diego men's basketball program have announced the hiring of Patrick Baldwin as the program’s newest assistant coach on March 27, 2026.
Baldwin comes to USD after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Valparaiso, where he helped guide the program to its first winning Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) season and highest league win total since joining the conference. A veteran coach with over 25 years of Division I experience, Baldwin has held roles across the Big Ten, Big East and MVC, including serving as head coach at Milwaukee.
During his time at Valparaiso, Baldwin played a key role in the program’s turnaround, helping the Beacons to 18 overall wins in 2025–26 and significant improvement in national rankings. He also contributed to the development of multiple all-conference performers and conference freshmen of the year while helping elevate the program’s recruiting efforts.
"I couldn’t be more fired up to join the University of San Diego and be a part of this new chapter under JR Blount," Baldwin said. "This is special for me, having had the opportunity to coach JR during his playing days and now witnessing his rise in the coaching profession. I can say with complete confidence that there is no one more prepared to lead a program.
JR has paid his dues every step of the way. He’s an elite leader, an outstanding communicator, and a powerful role model for young people. What separates him is that he’s a consummate competitor with an innate ability to connect, inspire, and win. I’m incredibly grateful and energized to be alongside him as we get to work. There’s real purpose and vision here, and I’m ready to help bring it to life in a big way."
Prior to Valparaiso, Baldwin served as an assistant coach at Georgetown under Patrick Ewing and spent four seasons at his alma mater, Northwestern, where he helped the Wildcats achieve their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history in 2017 while serving as recruiting coordinator. He also held assistant coaching roles at Missouri State, Loyola Chicago, Green Bay and Lincoln (Mo.).
Baldwin spent five seasons as the head coach at Milwaukee, where he led the Panthers to multiple Horizon League semifinal appearances and helped elevate the program’s competitiveness within the conference while developing a first-round NBA Draft pick — his son, Patrick Baldwin Jr. — and establishing a national recruiting pipeline.
A standout player during his time at Northwestern, Baldwin ranks as the program’s all-time leader in steals (272) and among the top in assists and scoring. He earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior and went on to play professionally in Bosnia and Croatia. Baldwin graduated from Northwestern in 1994 with a degree in organizational studies.
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