Julius McNair comes to Hampton University this year to coach the running backs after serving the last five years at the University of Tennessee-Martin. He was the running backs coach for two years and defensive backs coach along with recruiting coordinator for three years.
McNair coached a defensive secondary which tallied 11 interceptions and 38 pass breakups. Under his leadership, Marquis Clemons earned All-OVC second team honors after leading the team with 79 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception, three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.
In 2014, McNair coached a defensive backfield that produced seven of the team’s 10 interceptions while adding 33 of the Skyhawks’ 44 pass breakups. He coached Jordan Landry (third in the OVC with 11 pass breakups) and Walter Evans (eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference with three interceptions), who each statistically ranked as two of the top defensive backs in the league.
In his first season of coaching the Skyhawks, the team snagged 12 interceptions and had 48 pass breakups, a new single-season school record.
McNair played in 43 games for UT Martin from 2009-12, earning a start in 13 games. The linebacker accounted for 140 tackles (76 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, three quarterback hurries and one blocked kick. He also added 88 yards rushing with a pair of touchdowns playing in a special quarterback package in 2010.
McNair’s best season came during his senior campaign, when he racked up 70 tackles and recorded his lone career interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery to go along with a career-best four pass breakups. As a junior, he started in eight games and recorded 53 tackles, including career highs of 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and one blocked kick.
Before attending UT Martin, McNair was an all-state performer at Mount Olive High School. He threw for 2,253 yards and 24 touchdowns during his senior season, leading all of Class 1A in touchdown passes.
McNair graduated from UT Martin in 2013 with a degree in business. He is married to the former Jasmyne Reese.
