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Pep Hamilton

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
14 98-118-0 45.37% 4-3 57.14%

Biography

Pep Hamilton was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 2000 to 2016, finishing his career as the associate head coach-offense of the Cleveland Browns. Over his fourteen years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 103-121-0.

Playing Career

College Career

Howard University

Pep Hamilton played college football at Howard University in Washington, D.C. While he was recruited to play quarterback, his head coach Steve Wilson viewed him more as a coach. As a backup to two All-American starting quarterbacks during his time at Howard, he served more as an additional coach.

Coaching Career

College Coaching

Howard University

When Hamilton graduated, Wilson wanted to hire him on as a graduate assistant. However, Hamilton had to turn him down because he needed a full time position. Wilson countered by allowing him to join the staff as the quarterbacks coach. Howard coached the quarterbacks in 1997 and 1998, and in 1999 added the role of offensive coordinator to his duties.

NFL Career

Kansas City Chiefs

During his time at Howard, he also worked as an intern for several NFL teams during the offseason. The first of which was the Kansas City Chiefs under head coach Gunther Cunningham for the 2000 season.

Washington Redskins

During the 2001 offseason, Hamilton interned for the Washington Redskins under head coach Marty Schottenheimer.

Baltimore Ravens

After leaving Howard University in 2002, Hamilton secured his final NFL internship with the Baltimore Ravens under head coach Brian Billick.

New York Jets

In 2003, Hamilton secured his first full time NFL position with the New York Jets as their offensive quality control coach. By 2004, head coach Herman Edwards promoted him to offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach. In this role, he worked closely with quarterback coach Jim Hostler. During his three seasons with the Jets, the team made one playoff appearance with an overall record of 20-28.

San Francisco 49ers

In 2006, Hamilton was hired by the San Francisco 49ers as their new offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach, working with Hostler again. Coaching second-year quarterback Alex Smith, Hamilton helped Smith make substantial progress. Overall, the team improved to 7-9 from their previous record of 4-12.

Chicago Bears

His stay with the 49ers only lasted one season. In 2007, he was hired by the Chicago Bears to be their quarterbacks coach and to improve off their Super Bowl appearance the previous season. He stayed with the Bears for three seasons, but the team never made the playoffs during that time.

Return to College

Stanford Cardinal

In 2010, Hamilton returned to coaching college when Jim Harbaugh hired him to be the Stanford Cardinal's wide receiver coach. When Harbaugh left Stanford to coach in the NFL, offensive coordinator David Shaw was promoted to head coach. Shaw promoted Hamilton to his old role as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. During the 2011 season, Hamilton helped coach quarterback Andrew Luck, who then achieved his second All-American and second time as runner-up for the Heisman trophy. Hamilton remained one more season at Stanford where the team maintained their success with a victory in the Rose Bowl.

Return to the NFL

Indianapolis Colts

In 2013, Hamilton returned to the NFL as the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts under head coach Chuck Pagano. His position with the Colts reunited him with Luck, and the Colts have won eleven games in each of the 2013 and 2014 seasons, also making the playoffs both years.

Cleveland Browns

After three years with the Colts, Hamilton joined the Cleveland Browns as the associate head coach-offense under new head coach Hue Jackson. His tenure was short; he remained with the team for only one season before returning to college football.

Third Stint in College

Michigan Wolverines

Hamilton returned to the college ranks again and continued working with Harbaugh as his assistant head coach and passing game coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines. He spent two years in Ann Arbor before resigning at the conclusion of the 2018 season.

XFL Beginnings

DC Defenders

Hamilton was hired as the head coach and general manager of the DC Defenders of the recently revived XFL football league. He was hired in February of 2019 to prepare for the inaugural 2020 season.

History

Year Position Record Playoff record
2016 Associate Head Coach-Offense 1-15-0 0-0
2015 Offensive Coordinator 3-5-0 0-0
2014 Offensive Coordinator 11-5-0 2-1
2013 Offensive Coordinator 11-5-0 1-1
2009 Quarterbacks Coach 7-9-0 0-0
2008 Quarterbacks Coach 9-7-0 0-0
2007 Quarterbacks Coach 7-9-0 0-0
2006 Quarterbacks Coach / Offensive Assistant Coach 7-9-0 0-0
2005 Quarterbacks Coach / Offensive Assistant Coach 4-12-0 0-0
2004 Quarterbacks Coach / Offensive Assistant Coach 10-6-0 1-1
2003 Offensive Quality Control Coach 6-10-0 0-0
2002 Pro Personnel Intern 7-9-0 0-0
2001 Summer Coaching Intern 8-8-0 0-0
2000 Summer Coaching Intern / Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship 7-9-0 0-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship