Tyrone Nix Hired as by Virginia Tech Football as Safeties Coach

Tyrone Nix
Tyrone Nix, shown here coaching for Ole Miss, has been hired as Virginia Tech’s safeties coach. (photo via hokiesports.com)

As expected and rumored for a while, Virginia Tech Football announced today that they have hired Tyrone Nix as safeties coach to replace Galen Scott, who resigned in late April. Justin Hamilton, who was previously promoted to full-time assistant coach on an interim basis, will return to his position of director of player development — defense.

Nix, 45 years old, is a 23-year college football coaching veteran with an impressive resume. He played linebacker at Southern Miss from 1990-93 and then joined the Golden Eagles coaching staff in 1995 as the defensive tackles coach. Since then, Nix has coached at four schools and was most recently a senior analyst at Texas A&M. His coaching career includes stints at four different schools as a defensive coordinator.


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Justin Fuente’s Comments on Tyrone Nix

“Bud [Foster] and I both knew we wanted an experienced defensive coach and proven recruiter to fill this position on our staff,” Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente said in a hokiesports.com press release. “We will get that and much more with Tyrone Nix. We’re excited about his proven track record as a coach who can evaluate and develop talent. Just as importantly, we are always looking for individuals who can bring new ideas and concepts to our staff as we continually strive to evolve.

“We are looking forward to Tyrone and his family joining us in Blacksburg. I’m confident that our student-athletes will be challenged by him, while he seeks to develop their full potential on a daily basis. Tyrone is a well-rounded, veteran football coach who will help make us better.”

Tyrone Nix Coaching Resume

Southern Miss:

  • 1995: DT coach
  • 1996-99: OLB coach
  • 2000: DB coach
  • 2001-2004: Defensive Coordinator (DC)/ILB coach

South Carolina:

  • 2005: Co-DC/DL
  • 2006: Co-DC/LB
  • 2007: Co-DC/ILB

Ole Miss:

  • 2008-09: DC/LB
  • 2010-11: Assistant Head Coach/DC/LB

Middle Tennessee:

  • 2012-14: Co-DC/LB
  • 2015-16: DC/LB

Texas A&M:

  • 2017: Senior Analyst

Tyrone Nix Coaching Highlights (via hokiesports.com)

  • From 2001-03, Southern Miss ranked in the top 15 in the nation in both scoring defense and pass efficiency defense each season.
  • In 2003, was named a finalist for the Broyles Award, an annual award given to honor the best assistant coach in college football.
  • In 2008, Ole Miss ranked fourth in the nation in rushing defense (86.5 ypg).
  • In 2009, Ole Miss posted 92 tackles for loss and 34.0 sacks, totals that ranked first and second in the SEC, respectively.
  • In 2013, Middle Tennessee State tied for fifth in turnovers forced among all FBS squads with 33.

8 Responses You are logged in as Test

    1. Returns to his previous position of director of player development – defense.

      I have added that to the article.

  1. Fuente and Foster seem happy with the hire, but unexplained is why a 16-year veteran of the SEC takes a job with a school in Conference USA which does not appear to be a step up, and hasn’t coached for the last year. Any insights? Just asking!

    1. Agreed. The last year as an analyst raises a red flag to me, but I will trust that Whit, Justin, and Bud know what they are doing! Excited to see how this hire turns out!

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