Virginia Tech Promotes Adam Lechtenberg to 10th Assistant Role, Hires Justin Hamilton

Editor

January 30, 2018, 03:00 AM

With the NCAA allowing college football programs to add a 10th on-field assistant, teams have been poaching coaches from all over the nation. While most have gone outside of their own operations, Virginia Tech has decided to stay in-house for their hire while also bringing a former Hokie back in a support staff role. https://twitter.com/VT_Football/status/958369769476034561 Virginia Tech has promoted Adam Lechtenberg to their 10th assistant role. Lechtenberg will not coach a specific position, but will have a greater focus on the recruiting side as the Assistant Head Coach/Executive Director of Player Development. VT also announced that former Hokie DB and VMI ILBs coach Justin Hamilton has been hired in a support staff role as Director of Player Development for the Defense. The hiring of a support staffer may surprise many, but Lechtenberg has his fair share of experience as either an assistant or grad assistant. Here is a look at his experience before joining VT ahead of the 2017 season:

2016: UT-Martin WRs Coach/Passing Game Coordinator
2012-2015: Memphis Director of Player Personnel
2010-2011: Central Connecticut State Co-Offensive Coordinator/QBs Coach
2007-2009: TCU Offensive Graduate Assistant

From what we've heard, Lechtenberg has impressed those inside the program in his short time in Blacksburg. His primary focus will be on the recruiting side as a talent evaulator and recruiter, but he will have some traditional coaching involvement. What makes this move more interesting is how he will be able to go on the road and recruit now, something that could be advantageous given the fact that much of his role with Memphis and previously with VT was on the player personnel side. There is no doubt that this is a risky, unconventional hire given how he no power 5 coaching experience. However, Lechtenberg's value in the player personnel and recruiting areas combined with some coaching experience makes him an intriguing addition whether you're a fan or not. Justin Hamilton is a great addition to the staff given his VT career and his coaching experience. Hamilton is a solid addition who has gained some experience as a defensive coordinator at UVA-Wise and an assistant at VMI. While that experience may not have come above the FCS level, that's still solid experience especially for a guy who is being hired in a support staff role. Hamilton's experience also makes him more valuable than bringing in a graduate assistant would.