Virginia Tech announced today that safeties coach Justin Hamilton has been promoted to defensive coordinator, replacing the retiring Bud Foster starting in the 2020 season.
Hamilton, a former Virginia Tech and NFL player, joined the staff in 2018 as the Director of Player Development Defense before being promoted to safeties coach this past season. Hamilton will retain his responsibilities as safeties coach as well with this promotion.
Justin Hamilton had this to say on being named the next defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech (per VT release).
“I’m honored, humbled and beyond excited about this opportunity,” Justin Hamilton said. “I appreciate the faith and trust that Coach (Justin) Fuente has placed in me. I understand and appreciate the responsibility that comes with this position. I was raised in this game by Frank Beamer and Bud Foster. Virginia Tech football will always be part of my identity. No one can ever fill Bud’s shoes, but we are going to strive to play tough, aggressive defense just like we always have here at Tech. I’m indebted to Coach Fuente to get to continue coaching at a place I love very dearly. We’re going to do everything we can to uphold the Virginia Tech standard on the defensive side of the ball.”
Justin Fuente had this to say on his decision to promote Justin Hamilton to defensive coordinator (via VT press release).
“Justin (Hamilton) has earned this opportunity to lead our defense and our football team,” Justin Fuente said. “Everyone in our program has a great deal of respect for him and his abilities. Coach Foster has reiterated to me on several occasions that Justin is ready for this next step in his coaching career. I feel the same way and am convinced he’s exactly the right fit for this role at Virginia Tech. Coach Hamilton is a talented coach and recruiter with a deep passion for both the game and Virginia Tech. He possesses a great knack for connecting with our players. His voice carries tremendous weight on the field and in the locker room because he’s worn that helmet and experienced many of the same things the young men in our program are going through.
“Just as importantly, Coach Hamilton exemplifies the Hard, Smart, Tough mantra that is so important to us at Virginia Tech,” Fuente continued. “Nothing was ever handed to Justin Hamilton, he’s had to earn everything. I respect his work ethic and roots in this region very much. Coach Hamilton and I both understand the legacy and tradition of Lunch Pail Defense that Coach Foster and generations of players have established at Virginia Tech. Justin has been, and certainly continues to be a big part of that. There’s no way to replace a man like Bud Foster. What we need is a coach, a teacher and a talent evaluator who can help our current team continue to succeed, while recruiting the right kind of young men to join our program in the future. There’s no question in my mind that Justin Hamilton is the right man for the job.”
Bud Foster had this to say on Hamilton being his replacement and being "absolutely" ready for the job (via VT press release).
“I couldn’t think of anyone better to continue our tradition of Virginia Tech defense than Justin Hamilton,” Bud Foster said. “Justin embodied our team-first mentality as a player and did anything and everything we ever asked of him. He was a gritty player and he’s exactly the same way as a coach. He’s fought and competed for every opportunity he’s earned in the coaching profession and I respect the way he’s approached it from day one. When we brought Justin back to Virginia Tech, in the back of my head I was hoping that I could help groom him to someday become a defensive coordinator. While I didn’t know when or where that opportunity might come, I’m thrilled that it’s happened for him at Virginia Tech.
“When Coach Fuente asked whether Coach Hamilton was ready, my answer was, ‘Absolutely, he’s ready. He’s a guy who will evolve, learn and get better from every experience,’” Foster continued. “I know Coach Fuente didn’t have to ask my opinion, but when he did it just confirmed what we were both already thinking, that we had the right man already in the building to carry the torch for the Lunch Pail Defense. I couldn’t be more proud of Justin and I’ll continue supporting him and the Hokies in any way I can in my new role away from the field.”
We will have more updates as this story develops.
