Football
- Title:
- Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator
Pep Hamilton was hired as Michigan's assistant head coach and passing game coordinator on Jan. 12, 2017, and he is now in his second season with the program.
Hamilton has worked with and developed some excellent college and professional quarterbacks during his coaching career, including Andrew Luck, Kevin Hogan, Alex Smith, Jay Cutler and Michigan alum Brian Griese.
Most recently in 2017, Hamilton helped the Michigan offense remain an efficient and balanced attack. Despite starting three different quarterbacks over the course of the season, U-M was efficient in finishing drives, converting 84.1 percent of its red zone opportunities and 86.2 percent of those chances in Big Ten play. U-M was one of three schools (Maryland, Houston) to earn wins with at least three different starting quarterbacks during the season: Wilton Speight, John O'Korn and Brandon Peters.
Balanced with a 2,000-yard rushing attack, nineteen different players caught at least one pass in Hamilton's first year on staff, with six players scoring receiving touchdowns. Seven athletes received All-Big Ten honors, including four skill position players: running backs Karan Higdon and Chris Evans, and tight ends Zach Gentry and Sean McKeon.
According to Pro Football Focus College, no team in the Big Ten utilized its tight ends better out of the slot than Michigan. Sean McKeon (31 catches, 301 yards, three touchdowns) and Zach Gentry (17 catches, 303 yards, two touchdowns) set new career highs across the board, and were first and fourth on the team in receiving.
True freshmen Donovan Peoples-Jones (22 catches, 277 yards) and Tarik Black (11 catches, 149 yards) became fast contributors for an offensive unit that returned just four starters, while Hamilton helped returning wide receivers Grant Perry (25 catches, 307 yards), Kekoa Crawford (17 receptions, 243 yards) and Eddie McDoom (11 catches, 81 yards) set career-highs in major receiving categories.
Hamilton brought more than 10 years of coaching experience in the National Football League to Ann Arbor, including the past four seasons with the Cleveland Browns (2016) and Indianapolis Colts (2013-15). He was the associate head coach on offense for the Browns in 2016 season and spent three years as the offensive coordinator for the Colts, who were 11-5 his first two seasons, with two AFC South division titles and an appearance in the 2014 AFC Championship Game.
The Colts offense set franchise records for passing yards (4,894) and net yards (6,506) during the 2014 season, with the passing total leading all NFL teams. The team also recorded the second-most points (458) and third-most first downs (371) in team history. During that season, quarterback Andrew Luck led the NFL with 40 passing touchdowns and set a Colts record with eight straight 300-yard passing games. Hamilton's offense also featured two tight ends with eight receiving touchdowns each and had a receiver gain 1,300 yards.
In his first year with the Colts, Hamilton helped Luck trim his interception total in half; 18 as a rookie to nine in 2013. Indianapolis led the NFL and set a franchise record for fewest turnovers (14) and the running game had its highest rushing total (1,743) in seven seasons.
In 2010, Hamilton joined Harbaugh's staff at Stanford as the wide receivers coach. He served as the Cardinal's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the 2011-12 seasons, working closely with Luck, a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and Pac-12 Player of the Year. Luck also won the 2011 Maxwell Award as the nation's top player.
Hamilton spent eight seasons in the NFL before teaming with Harbaugh at Stanford. He was the quarterbacks coach with the Chicago Bears for three seasons (2007-09) and was the offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach for the San Francisco 49ers (2006) and New York Jets (2004-06). Hamilton was an offensive quality control coach with the Jets (2003) and started his NFL experience as a pro personnel intern with the Baltimore Ravens during the 2002 season. He also did internships with the Washington Redskins (2001) and Kansas City Chiefs (2000).
He began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, Howard University, for five seasons (1997-2001). Hamilton added the role of offensive coordinator to his responsibilities during his final three seasons.
Hamilton earned his bachelor's degree in business from Howard University in 1997. He played quarterback at Howard and earned the school's scholar-athlete award in 1995 and 1996.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
| Year | Team | Position |
| 1997-98 | Howard University | Quarterbacks |
| 1999-2001 | Howard University | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks |
| 2002 | Baltimore Ravens | Pro Personnel Intern |
| 2003 | New York Jets | Offensive Quality Control |
| 2004-05 | New York Jets | Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks |
| 2006 | San Francisco 49ers | Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks |
| 2007-09 | Chicago Bears | Quarterbacks |
| 2010 | Stanford University | Wide Receivers |
| 2011-12 | Stanford University | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks |
| 2013-15 | Indianapolis Colts | Offensive Coordinator |
| 2016 | Cleveland Browns | Associate Head Coach-Offense |
| 2017-present | University of Michigan | Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator |
THE HAMILTON FILE
Full Name: Pep Hamilton
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
High School: West Charlotte (N.C.)
College: Howard University, 1997 (B.A., business)
