Chris Hampton serves as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the University of Oregon football program, joining head coach Dan Lanning’s staff in 2023. Hampton arrived in Eugene after a highly successful stint at Tulane, where he engineered one of the most significant defensive turnarounds in the country. In 2022, he helped lead the Green Wave to a 12-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory over USC, while dramatically improving key defensive metrics, including scoring defense, total defense, and passing defense. Known for his ability to develop defensive backs and build cohesive units, Hampton quickly became a key figure in Oregon’s defensive leadership.
Prior to his time as Tulane’s defensive coordinator, Hampton built a strong résumé as a defensive backs coach at multiple programs, including Tulane, Duke, and McNeese State. His coaching career began with graduate assistant roles at Arkansas State and Georgia Tech before advancing to position coaching roles at Central Arkansas and McNeese State. Throughout his career, he has developed numerous all-conference players and earned recognition as one of the rising coaches in the profession, including being named to the AFCA 35 Under 35 list. A former collegiate safety at the University of South Carolina, Hampton was a four-year letterwinner and two-year starter, combining academic excellence with on-field performance. His background as both a player and coach continues to shape his approach to mentoring student-athletes and building high-performing defenses.
