Van Malone introduced as Hampton football’s new head coach

The former Kansas State assistant head coach brings culture-building reputation and Big 12 pedigree to Pirate Nation.

HAMPTON, Va. — Pirate Nation got its first official look at a new era of Hampton University football on Monday, as Van Malone was formally introduced as the Pirates’ head coach during a press conference on campus.

Malone arrives in Hampton after spending the past seven seasons at Kansas State, where he served as assistant head coach and oversaw the secondary in the Big 12. The 55-year-old is widely respected for his ability to build culture within a program, a trait that resonated strongly with Hampton leadership during the search process.

During his time with the Wildcats, Malone coached seven defensive backs who earned All–Big 12 honors. While this marks his first opportunity as a head coach, Malone said his approach as an assistant prepared him for the role.

“I challenge myself as an assistant to operate as if I was a head coach,” Malone said. “To operate within my defense when I was defensive coordinator, operate within that unit like it was the team. This is my team.”

Hampton Director of Athletics Anthony Henderson Sr. emphasized that Malone’s impact extends well beyond the field.

“Outside of football, just getting to know him and the man that he is — when you’re looking for a leader of young men for your football program, that sold it for me,” Henderson said. “X’s and O’s, Van just kept sticking out, with not only his plan for the program but who he is as a person.”

Malone also made it clear he understands the importance of recruiting locally and tapping into the rich talent of the 757.

“This is a very fertile area for recruiting, and we’ll take advantage of that,” Malone said. “But relationships are part of that success. The players who will play for us are players who understand the legacy and the tradition of this university.”

With a proven background at the Power 4 level and a clear vision for Hampton football, Malone now takes the reins as he begins building the next chapter for the Pirates.