Oregon announces Chris Hampton as co-defensive coordinator, safeties coach
On Wednesday, Oregon officially announced that former Tulane defensive coordinator Chris Hampton has joined Dan Lanning’s coaching staff.
Hampton has been hired as the Ducks’ co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. He fills the role left by former Oregon staffer Matt Powledge, who left to become Baylor’s defensive coordinator in December.
“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 concluded his first season as Tulane’s defensive coordinator by helping lead the Green Wave to a 12-2 record and a Cotton Bowl win over USC.
“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.”
Under Hampton, Tulane ranked 33rd nationally in scoring defense at 22.21 points per game and 47th in the nation in total defense at 360.4 yards per game.
Throughout his career, Hampton has worked primarily with defensive backs.
He served as defensive backs coach at Duke (2020), Tulane (2016-19), McNeese State (2012-15), and Central Arkansas (2011) before becoming the Green Wave’s DC ahead of last season.
Hampton also served in graduate assistant positions at Arkansas State and Georgia Tech.
A Memphis, Tenn., native, Hampton played safety at South Carolina from 2004-2007.
**Oregon’s most intriguing offensive position battles entering 2023**
As we inch closer to spring football, Oregon’s offensive two-deep is beginning to take shape.
The Ducks added a flurry of quality players via the transfer portal during the previous transfer cycle — many of whom will be expected to make an immediate impact. Although Oregon returns six starters on the offensive side of the ball, a few starting jobs will be up for grabs over the next eight months.
Here are three that will be worth keeping tabs on between now and the start of the 2023 season.
Running back
Bucky Irving is back after a sensational debut season with the Ducks. The sophomore running back was one of the more electric playmakers in all of college football in 2022 and could emerge as a bonafide superstar in 2023.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t still be competition for playing time in Oregon’s backfield. Carlos Locklyn made it abundantly clear in his first season as the Ducks’ running backs coach that game snaps are far from guaranteed, no matter how talented a player is.
