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Virginia Tech Assistant Tyrone Nix Leaves, Justin Hamilton Expected to Replace Him

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Matthew Atkins | @mattkins21
Writer
Virginia Tech will be making a second coaching change as Tyrone Nix, Tech's safeties coach, has accepted a job as a defensive assistant for Matt Luke at Ole Miss, joining his brother on the Rebels' staff. https://twitter.com/VT_Football/status/1097526310807703552?s=19 The veteran defensive coach spent one season in Blacksburg coaching the Hokies' safeties in 2018. Prior to his stint with Virginia Tech, Nix was a defensive analyst for Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M. Tyrone Nix has spent a considerable amount of his career in the state of Mississippi for two different programs. His first coaching job was as defensive tackles coach for Southern Miss. He began coaching there in 1995 and eventually worked his way up to defensive coordinator. His new job brings him back to Ole Miss, where he spent four seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Nix was previously dismissed from the Rebels' program in 2011 upon the hiring of then-head coach Hugh Freeze. The move will also allow him to join his brother, RBs coach Derrick Nix, on Matt Luke's staff, something that likely factored into his decision. Justin Hamilton, Virginia Tech Director of Player Development (Defense), is expected to replace Nix according to a report from Football Scoop. https://twitter.com/techlunchpaild/status/1097510337404915713?s=19 Hamilton joined the Hokies' staff last offseason after four seasons as the inside LBs coach and special teams co-coordinator at VMI. Before then, Hamilton spent some time at UVA-Wise including three seasons as their defensive coordinator. Hamilton is most known by Hokie fans for his career in Blacksburg when he was a two-way player for VT from 2002-2005 while being most prominently featured at DB during the 2005 season. The former Hokie has gone on the road to recruit as a 10th assistant after being put in an interim role this past spring and early summer after Galen Scott's departure. That experience combined with his likely in-state name recognition, both from his time as a player and his coaching experience in the Commonwealth, should make it an easy transition for Hamilton on the recruiting trail if he is promoted in that role.

Update

Virginia Tech has announced that Justin Hamilton will replace Tyrone Nix as Virginia Tech's safeties coach. https://twitter.com/VT_Football/status/1097534595535458304?s=19 The move comes less than a year after Hamilton filled the role on an interim basis after the departure of Galen Scott so that the Hokies could have a full staff for recruiting reasons. Hamilton's promotion seemed most likely after the initial announcement of Nix's departure. It is expected that Virginia Tech will look to bring in a young, up-and-coming coach like Hamilton to fill his off-the-field assistant role. Justin Fuente had this to say about the move in Virginia Tech's press release. "Justin (Hamilton) 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."

Photo Credit: Harley Taylor

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