HAMPTON, Va. (July 13, 2026) … Members of the Hampton University football team will be canvassing the local Hampton area distributing football ticket information to local residents on Wednesday, July 15. In all, some 9,000 local residents will receive flyers highlighting the 2026 Pirate football season in downtown, Phoebus, Old Hampton, Wythe, Old Wythe, Aberdeen Garden and the Fox Hill areas of the city.
 
Hampton opens the 2026 season on Aug. 29 hosting Virginia University-Lynchburg, marking the beginning of the Coach Van Malone Era. Malone was named head coach on Dec. 12, 2025 after serving as assistant head coach at Kansas State.
 
Malone's team has been incredibly active in the community this spring assisting at charitable and community events. Among the countless events in which the team has participated were Pirates Day Achievable Dreams at area middle and high schools, boxing thousands of meals at the Peninsula Food Bank and coaching and teaching Pop Warner football players with hands-on instruction and drills.