Florida Gators hire back Joe Hamilton from Texas A&M
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Billy Napier made another major hire this offseason, and it’s a familiar face. UF has brought back Joe Hamilton to its recruiting staff, Gators Online has learned.
After being promoted by Napier for his work in the 2024 class, Hamilton was hired away by Texas A&M in late February to be the Aggies’ assistant general manager. Less than five months later, he has returned to Gainesville.
Hamilton will resume his role as Florida’s director of scouting. Monday was his first day back in the office at the Heavener Football Training Center.
Parents and recruits have spoken highly of Hamilton, who was instrumental in Florida landing DJ Lagway. He had a close relationship with the five-star quarterback and his father, Derek Lagway.
“That’s the man right there. Coach Joe is the man,” Lagway’s father said last year after his son signed with the Gators. “I talk to him on a daily. Joe Hamilton, I don’t even know where to start at.
“I’m gonna be honest with you, he’s one of the reasons why DJ is going to Florida. We spent plenty of nights talking on the phone. He’s an awesome guy. You can’t get any better than Joe Hamilton.”
Hamilton joined the Florida staff as a personnel analyst for the defense in December of 2021. He made his way to The Swamp after three seasons (2019-21) with Napier at Louisiana in the role of quality control: player personnel/recruiting. He helped the program land the No. 1 recruiting class in the Sun Belt for three consecutive years (2019-21) and two-time conference champion in 2020 and 2021.
Hamilton joined the Gators in 2022 as a personnel analyst and was promoted by Napier to assistant director of player personnel / pro liaison prior to the 2023 season. Following the 2024 cycle and his second season with the program, Hamilton was once again promoted to director of scouting.
Hamilton, a native of Thomasville, Texas, graduated from Texas Southern in 2017 with a bachelor of science in sports management. The move from his home state back to Florida reunites him with not only Napier, but several coaches and staff workers that he worked with at Louisiana.
Hamilton has spent multiple years working with the likes of general manager Jacob LaFrance, director of player personnel Nick McDonald, assistant AD of recruiting strategy Katie Turner and director of recruiting & external engagement Bri Wade, among others.
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier walks during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/18141240/Untitled-design-72-2.png)
