Head coach JR Blount has named Patrick Baldwin an assistant coach for the San Diego men’s basketball program, he announced on Friday.
Baldwin joins the Toreros after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Valparaiso, where he played a key role in the program’s turnaround and development in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). He brings over 25 years of Division I coaching experience, including head coaching experience at Milwaukee and assistant coaching stops across the Big Ten, Big East and MVC.
“Pat has been a mentor and an integral part of my journey since I was young,” Blount said. “His mentorship has played a significant role in shaping my approach to leadership, and his attention to detail will consistently elevate our standards in every area at USD. He brings a disciplined, thoughtful presence to our staff, and his recruiting acumen stands out through his ability to identify talent and build meaningful relationships. Pat is not only an outstanding coach, but also a trusted and genuine man of character who will be vital to our success.”
During his time at Valparaiso, Baldwin helped guide the program to its first winning Missouri Valley Conference season and highest league win total since joining the conference. In 2025-26, the Beacons recorded 18 overall wins and made significant strides in national rankings, reflecting Baldwin’s impact on player development and team success.
Over the course of his career, Baldwin has developed multiple all-conference performers and five conference freshmen of the year. He also coached a first-round NBA Draft pick in 2022 — his son, Patrick Baldwin Jr. — and established a national recruiting pipeline. Baldwin Jr. currently plays for the Sacramento Kings.
“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. 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.
A standout player at Northwestern from 1990 to 1994, Baldwin remains the program’s all-time leader in steals (272) and ranks among the top in assists and scoring. He earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior and later played professionally in Bosnia and Croatia.
Baldwin is a native of Leavenworth, Kansas, and graduated from Northwestern in 1994. He and his wife, Shawn, a former standout volleyball player at Northwestern, have four children.
https://usdtoreros.com/news/2026/3/27/pat-baldwin-named-mens-basketball-assistant-coach.aspx