HOMETOWN: Dayton, Texas
EDUCATION: A.A., Blinn, 2005
B.S., New Mexico, 2011
COACHING: New Mexico, 2005-06
Basha (Ariz.) High School
Legacy Christian Academy (Texas), 2009-10
Kipp High (Houston, Texas), 2014-15
New Mexico Military Institute, 2006-17
Ottawa (Ariz.), 2017-19
Papago Pumas JC (Ariz.), 2019-22
Arete Prep (Ariz.), 2022-23
Hampton, 2023-present
A veteran coach with experience on all levels of coaching, Brandon Payne joined the Hampton staff in 2023 after serving as head coach at Arete (Ariz.) Prep. He led the Chargers to a 4-6 mark in his final season.
A standout defensive back during his playing days, he coaches cornerbacks for the Pirates.
Payne played two seasons at New Mexico, lettering in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, he led the nation in passes defended with six interceptions and 17 passes broken up. His six interceptions tied him for fourth in the nation and is tied for fifth-most in Lobo single-season history. He was named the teams’ Most Improved Player, and he went on to be named first-team All-Mountain West and a second-team Walter Camp All-American from Walter Camp.
He was a standout prep athlete at Dayton (Texas) High where he was a first-tea, all-district selection and honorable mention all-state cornerback. A three-sport athlete, he also lettered in basketball and baseball.
He began his career at Blinn Junior College where he was an honorable mention all-conference player. He led the team in interceptions and in blocked field goals.
He spent time in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins and was a 17th round NFL Europe draft pick by the Cologne Centurions in 2006. He played in the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football League where he helped lead the BC Lions to the 2006 Grey Cup.
Payne began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at New Mexico in 2005. He has worked as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at numerous high schools in Arizona and Texas. He also coached at New Mexico Military Institute.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in University Studies with an emphasis on Exercise and Health Education from New Mexico. He moved to Ottawa (Ariz.) as an assistant and helped build the new program into a winner.
Payne coached at Maricopa Junior College as defensive backs coach, special team’s coordinator, and assistant recruiting coordinator before being named head coach at Papago Junior College. He then spent two years at Arete High before accepting the position at Hampton.
