Dedrick Payton enters his second season as an assistant coach with the Chowan University football program. Chowan University Head Coach Paul Johnson solidified his staff with Payton in the spring season of 2024. Payton comes to Chowan by way of Louisburg College, where he worked as the Defensive Line Coach for the Hurricanes football program.
During the 2024 season, Peyton assisted special teams where Jakobe Lane put up a 13 returns for 369 yards.
Payton led the defensive line unit at Louisburg College where the Hurricanes finished the 2023 campaign 5-4 overall. The Hurricanes defensive unit only allowed 158.2 yards per game in the 2023 season. Payton brings a diverse coaching background to the Hawks football staff that includes college, high school, and semi-professional football coaching stops.
Prior to his stint at Louisburg, Payton served as the Defensive Coordinator at Wilson Beddingfield High School in Wilson, North Carolina. In total, Payton spent 18 seasons with the Beddingfield Bruins on two different coaching stints (2001-2015, 2018-2020). Payton also was the owner and head coach for the East Carolina Rams, a semi-professional football team that played in the United Coastal Football League. Payton was named UCFL Coach of the Year twice during in his nine year tenure as owner and head coach. The East Carolina Rams also claimed Semi-Pro National Championships in 2015 and 2016 under Payton's leadership.
Payton is a United States Army veteran and was a member of the North Carolina National Guard (1993-2014). He graduated from the US Army Computer Science School (1993) and holds both an associates and a bachelor's degree in CIS and Cyber Security systems. He is currently on target to graduate in December of 2024 with an M.S. in Sport Managment from Southern New Hampshire University.
Payton is a certified strength and conditioning coach (ISSA) and oversees strength and conditioning for the Hawks football program. In addition to his coaching duties, Payton assist all athletic programs with turf tank management.
