Virginia Tech safeties coach Tyrone Nix has left Blacksburg to join the Ole Miss coaching staff, and former Tech player Justin Hamilton has been promoted to replace him. Nix spent just one season in Blacksburg after being hired last June to replace Galen Scott, who left the program for personal reasons after spring practice a year ago.
Hamilton briefly served as Virginia Tech’s interim safeties coach after Scott left and before Nix was hired. He has been the Hokies’ Director of Player Personnel on the defensive side of the ball.
"Justin has more than proven his mettle to our staff over the past year and has earned this opportunity to take the next step in his football career," Fuente said. "We know how invested Justin is in the continued success of our program. He's a bright and talented coach who has built a solid rapport with our players and football staff. Coach Foster and I are both excited to expand his responsibilities with our team."
Hamilton played running back, wide receiver and free safety for Virginia Tech from 2002 through 2005, and then went on to play in 12 NFL games for the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins.
This will not be Hamilton’s first stint as a position coach at the college level. He was on the VMI staff from 2014 through 2017, where he coached inside linebackers and outside linebackers at various points. He also served as co-special teams coordinator for three seasons at VMI. Before his four years in Lexington, Hamilton was a member of the staff at UVA-Wise, where he was defensive coordinator from 2011 through 2013.
Hamilton has already spent time on the road recruiting for the Hokies, with Bud Foster on the mend from knee surgery in the month of January. Right now it’s unknown which region Hamilton will be in charge of recruiting, but that won’t matter nearly as much as Hamilton’s ability to recruit safeties to Tech’s program.