Justin Hamilton is in his first season coaching in the NFL and his first season with the Titans. He previously spent four seasons as a coach at Virginia Tech.  

Hamilton began working with the Virginia Tech program as director of player development–defense upon his return to his alma mater in 2018. He was named safeties coach in 2019 and added defensive coordinator duties to his responsibilities for the 2020 and 2021 campaigns.  

In 2021, Hokies cornerback Jermaine Waller earned All-ACC second-team honors, while four other members of the defense earned All-Conference honorable mention: safety Nasir Peoples, defensive back Chamarri Conner, linebacker Dax Hollifield and defensive lineman Jordan Williams.  

Hamilton played a role in the development of a pair of former high school quarterbacks—cornerback Caleb Farley and safety Divine Deablo—who went on to be drafted in 2021 as defensive backs. Both players began their collegiate careers playing wide receiver before blossoming in the secondary. Farley was selected by the Titans in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, while Deablo went to the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round.  

In 2020, Hamilton's initial season as defensive coordinator, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in continual changes to practices and personnel. However, the Hokies ranked third in the conference with 12 interceptions, and Deablo earned first-team All-ACC recognition after leading the team with four interceptions.  

Prior to his time on the coaching staff at Virginia Tech, Hamilton spent four years at Virginia Military Institute coaching outside linebackers (2014), outside linebackers/co-special teams (2015-16) and inside linebackers/co-special teams (2017). Under Hamilton's guidance in 2016, returner Mason Dermott earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors after leading the Southern Conference with 978 combined kickoff and punt return yards and ranking second in the league with a 23.2-yard kickoff return average. In 2017, Hamilton helped linebacker Allan Crastenberg earn All-Southern Conference second-team honors after posting a team-high 118 tackles and three interceptions.

Justin Hamilton is in his first season coaching in the NFL and his first season with the Titans. He previously spent four seasons as a coach at Virginia Tech.  

Hamilton began working with the Virginia Tech program as director of player development–defense upon his return to his alma mater in 2018. He was named safeties coach in 2019 and added defensive coordinator duties to his responsibilities for the 2020 and 2021 campaigns.  

In 2021, Hokies cornerback Jermaine Waller earned All-ACC second-team honors, while four other members of the defense earned All-Conference honorable mention: safety Nasir Peoples, defensive back Chamarri Conner, linebacker Dax Hollifield and defensive lineman Jordan Williams.  

Hamilton played a role in the development of a pair of former high school quarterbacks—cornerback Caleb Farley and safety Divine Deablo—who went on to be drafted in 2021 as defensive backs. Both players began their collegiate careers playing wide receiver before blossoming in the secondary. Farley was selected by the Titans in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, while Deablo went to the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round.  

In 2020, Hamilton's initial season as defensive coordinator, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in continual changes to practices and personnel. However, the Hokies ranked third in the conference with 12 interceptions, and Deablo earned first-team All-ACC recognition after leading the team with four interceptions.  

Prior to his time on the coaching staff at Virginia Tech, Hamilton spent four years at Virginia Military Institute coaching outside linebackers (2014), outside linebackers/co-special teams (2015-16) and inside linebackers/co-special teams (2017). Under Hamilton's guidance in 2016, returner Mason Dermott earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors after leading the Southern Conference with 978 combined kickoff and punt return yards and ranking second in the league with a 23.2-yard kickoff return average. In 2017, Hamilton helped linebacker Allan Crastenberg earn All-Southern Conference second-team honors after posting a team-high 118 tackles and three interceptions. 

Hamilton broke into coaching as a strength and conditioning coach at Virginia-Wise in 2010. He then served as the school's defensive coordinator from 2011 to 2013.  

A native of Clintwood, Va., Hamilton was a four-year letterman for Virginia Tech (2002-05) as a running back, wide receiver and defensive back, in addition to playing a prominent role on special teams. As a senior defensive back in 2005, he contributed three interceptions on a team that made its second consecutive appearance in the ACC Championship Game and then earned a win over Louisville in the Gator Bowl. The Hokies went 14-2 in conference play during his final two seasons in Blacksburg.  

Hamilton was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round (222nd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. From 2006 to 2008, he appeared in 12 total games with Cleveland and Washington. As a rookie in 2006, he registered 15 tackles in 10 games with the Browns.  

He graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor's degree in consumer studies.  

With his wife, Brittany, the couple has two sons, Kam and Ace, and one daughter, Channing.

Justin Hamilton's Coaching Timeline:

2023: Defensive Quality Control, Tennessee Titans 

2020-21: Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Virginia Tech 

2019: Safeties, Virginia Tech 

2018: Director of Player Development–Defense, Virginia Tech 

2017: Inside Linebackers/Co-Special Teams, Virginia Military Institute 

2015-16: Outside Linebackers/Co-Special Teams, Virginia Military Institute 

2014: Outside Linebackers, Virginia Military Institute 

2011-13: Defensive Coordinator, Virginia-Wise 

2010: Strength and Conditioning, Virginia-Wise