Oregon football head coach Dan Lanning added to his 2023 coaching staff on Jan. 25 with the hiring of Chris Hampton as the Ducks’ new co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

Hampton comes to Eugene after spending the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Tulane, helping guide the Green Wave to a 12-2 overall record in 2022 and a win over USC in the Cotton Bowl.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to the Oregon family,” Lanning said. “Chris brings a wealth of experience as a former player, defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator, and he has an excellent track record of teaching and developing defensive players. He has a terrific work ethic, and his ability to build relationships will help our student-athletes thrive both on the football field and as men. We are looking forward to seeing Chris pour into our program and help us reach new heights.”

Hampton spent four seasons (2016-19) as Tulane’s defensive backs coach before leaving to be the cornerbacks coach at Duke in 2020, after which he returned to Tulane to take over as defensive coordinator.

He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State in 2008, and followed that up with two seasons (2009-10) in the same role at Georgia Tech. Hampton went to Central Arkansas as the safeties coach in 2011, and then spent four seasons (2012-15) as the defensive backs coach at McNeese State before joining Tulane.

“I am excited to work for and represent the University of Oregon,” Hampton said. “I am extremely thankful for the opportunity provided by Coach Lanning and the Oregon administration. I believe in what Coach Lanning and the rest of the staff are building in Eugene. I can’t wait to get to work with the student-athletes and help Oregon compete for championships.”

Hampton engineered a remarkable defensive turnaround during his two-year stint as Tulane’s defensive coordinator. The Green Wave jumped up 82 spots to No. 32 in the scoring defense (22.2 PPG) in 2022, and 55 spots up to No. 46 in total defense (360.4 YPG). The biggest improvement came in the passing defense, where Tulane went from No. 115 in 2020 prior to Hampton’s return to No. 37 in 2022 (208.1 YPG).

Linebackers Dorian Williams and Nick Anderson headlined Hampton’s 2022 defense. Williams ranked 10th in the nation with 131 total tackles, and Anderson tied for 27th with 110. Williams earned all-ACC first-team honors after adding 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, while Anderson landed on the second team along with defensive linemen Darius Hodges and Patrick Jenkins.

Prior to leaving for Duke in 2020, Hampton guided a 2019 Tulane defensive backs unit that ranked third in the AAC with 12 interceptions, led by four from safety Larry Brooks. Safeties Chase Kuerschen (76) and P.J. Hall (68) led the team in tackles, and combined for four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, 6.0 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.

Hampton directed one of the nation’s most disruptive pass defenses in 2018, as the Green Wave led the nation with 76 passes broken up and tied for second with 88 passes defended. In a showdown with East Carolina, Hampton’s defensive back unit was largely responsible for an NCAA-record 20 pass breakups.

Following his unit’s impressive 2018 season, Hampton was national recognized on the American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 list.

Hampton’s first two seasons at Tulane were headlined by the development of cornerback Parry Nickerson. After earning second-team all-AAC honors in 2016, Nickerson accounted for six of nine interceptions by Green Wave cornerbacks and was named the all-AAC first team.

In four seasons as defensive backs coach at McNeese State, Hampton coached six defensive backs to all-Southland Conference honors. Wallace Scott was the conference defensive player of the year and an FCS all-American in 2015, and Hampton also coached Aaron Sam, Brent Spikes and Guy Morgan to the all-AAC first team. In 2014, Spikes made history with three interceptions and a conference record 148 return yards vs. Incarnate Word.

Hampton played college football at South Carolina, where he was a four-year letter winner and a two-year starter at safety. Hampton, who graduated in 2007 with a degree in criminology, was awarded South Carolina’s Harold White Award as the player with the highest grade point average.