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Coaching Highlights
• Virginia Tech alum enters his second season as defensive coordinator/safeties coach in 2021.
• Began working with Justin Fuente and the Tech program as director of player development – defense upon his return to Blacksburg in 2018 before being promoted to safeties coach in February 2019 and adding defensive coordinator duties to his responsibilities in 2020.
• “His voice carries tremendous weight on the field and in the locker room because he’s worn that helmet and ex-perienced many of the same things the young men in our program are going through,” said Fuente upon promoting Hamilton to his current post.
• Hamilton owns a varied background as a collegiate coach with expertise as a defensive coordinator, in addition to experience coaching special teams and linebackers, as well as a background as a strength and conditioning coordinator.
• Leads a Virginia Tech defensive staff that includes three other former Hokies’ players - J.C. Price (co-defensive line coach/defensive recruiting coordinator), Pierson Prioleau (director of player development – defense) and Jack Tyler (linebackers).
• The Clintwood, Virginia native served as a versatile player for Frank Beamer, Bud Foster and the Hokies from 2002-05. He spent time working at running back, wide receiver and defensive back for Tech, in addition to playing a prominent role on special teams before going on to play in the National Football League.
• Hamilton is also highly respected by high school coaches across the region, having developed valuable relationships during his previous coaching stops in Virginia and during his tenure at Tech.
• If the assignment of following in the footsteps of Foster as defensive coordinator wasn’t a big enough assignment, Hamilton’s initial season in that role came amidst a global pandemic that scrapped Tech’s 2020 spring practices and drastically altered the team’s personnel on an almost daily basis during the fall.
• Despite missing the first two contests of the 2020 season himself and being forced to practice and play with a depleted roster, by season’s end Tech’s defense showed reasons for optimism, closing the year with a convincing 33-15 win vs. Virginia to reclaim the Commonwealth Cup.
• The Hokies forced 12 interceptions in 2020, just two off the ACC’s top mark of 14 (Pitt, Clemson).
• Played a role in the development of a pair of former high school QBs – CB Caleb Farley and S Divine Deablo – who both benefitted from Hamilton’s tutelage and were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft as defensive backs. Both players began their Tech careers playing wide receiver before blossoming in the secondary for the Hokies.
• Hamilton served as Deablo’s position coach the past two seasons as he racked up 139 tackles (74 solo), 6.5 TFL, five INTs, 11 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble return touchdown before being selected in the third-round of the 2021 Draft by Las Vegas.
• A young Virginia Tech defense continued to grow in 2019, in large part due to the play of the Hokies’ safeties and Hamilton’s influence.
• During the final five regular season games of 2019 Tech forced 31 three-and-outs and allowed 15.4 points
per game.
• The Hokies become the first ACC team to post back-to-back shutouts against Power Five foes since 1978, racking up a 45-0 win at Georgia Tech (11/16/19) and a 28-0 win vs. Pitt (11/23/19).
• Tech led the ACC and ranked sixth among Power Five schools in Red Zone defense in 2019 (94.5 scoring pct.), allowing 37 TDs and forcing 15 FGs on 55 opponent Red Zone possessions.
• Tech safeties Divine Deablo and Reggie Floyd were two of the squad’s most productive players under Hamilton’s direction in 2019, combining for 153 total tackles.
• LB Allan Crastenberg helped anchor VMI’s defense under Hamilton’s tutelage. Crastenberg earned Second-Team All-Southern Conference honors in 2017 after leading the Keydets with 118 tackles (57 solo) and registering three INTs with one TD.
• Another one of Hamilton’s pupils, LB Ryan Francis, played a key role for VMI in 2017. Francis ranked second on the squad with 103 tackles (50 solo), while adding 2.5 sacks and 10.0 TFL.
• KR Mason Dermott earned Second-Team All-Southern Conference honors under Hamilton’s guidance in 2016 after leading the Southern Conference with 978 combined kickoff and punt return yards. Dermott ranked second in the league with a 23.2-yard kickoff return average.
• With Hamilton serving as defensive coordinator in 2012, UVA-Wise held five opponents to 24 points or fewer, including a 24-21 OT win over nationally-ranked Bethel College.
Prominent Pupils
CB CALEB FARLEY D1-2021 – Tennesee
Virginia Tech 2019 First-Team All-ACC, led the conference with 16 passes defended. Also registered four INTs and 12 PBUs.
S DIVINE DEABLO D3-2021 – Las Vegas
Virginia Tech First-Team All-ACC in 2020, led Tech with four INTs. Was second on Tech’s defense with 84 tackles in 2019.
DB CHAMARRI CONNER
Virginia Tech Tech’s leading tackler with 81 stops in 2020. Led all ACC DBs with 5.5 sacks and 10.0 TFL in 2019.
S REGGIE FLOYD FA-2020 – Arizona
Virginia Tech Was Tech’s third-leading tackler with 69 stops in 2019.
LB ALLAN CRASTENBERG
VMI Second-Team All-Southern Conference in 2017.
KR MASON DERMOTT
VMI Second-Team All-Southern Conference in 2016.
Playing Highlights
• Four-year letterman for Virginia Tech (2002-05) served as a versatile performer for the Hokies, working as a running back, wide receiver and defensive back, in addition to playing a prominent role on special teams.
• Posted 35 tackles, 2.5 TFL and three interceptions as a senior defensive back in 2005, helping lead Tech to its second consecutive appearance in the ACC Championship Game and a win over Louisville in the 2006 Gator Bowl.
• Appeared in 52 career games for the Hokies, adding three rushing TDs and one TD catch on offense.
• Tech compiled a 39-14 record during his four-year stretch as a letterwinner, including a 14-2 mark in ACC play his final two seasons in 2004-05.
• Was a seventh-round pick of Cleveland in the 2006 NFL Draft.
• Registered 15 tackles in 10 games as a rookie in 2006.
• Also spent time with Washington in 2008 before retiring from the NFL.
• A four-year starter on the Clintwood H.S. football squad, he also lettered in basketball and track, winning state titles in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.
