University of North Carolina Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Cornerbacks Coach
Armond Hawkins, a former recruiting analyst and secondary coach at the University of Washington, is in his second season as the Tar Heels as cornerbacks coach.
UNC’s defense was one of two in the ACC to limit opponents to 21 points or fewer in four consecutive games – the first time the program has accomplished the feat since 2000.
The Tar Heels ranked 24th nationally in red zone defense, holding opponents to a .773 mark with only 23 touchdowns allowed in 44 trips to the red zone by opponents.
While at Washington, he worked under former Huskies and new UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick on a staff that helped UW climb from No. 99 nationally in total defense in 2023 to No. 26 in 2024.
Hawkins’ coaching career also includes stints at Arizona (2023). He joined the University of Arizona football program as Assistant Director of Recruiting and Defensive Analyst after spending the 2022 season with the Colorado Buffaloes football program as the assistant director of high school relations.
Prior to assuming his previous role at Colorado, Hawkins worked at the University of Southern California, where was the director of high school relations for the Trojans’ football team for a little over two years (for the 2020 and 2021 seasons).
He graduated from the University of Idaho in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Science. He was a four-year letterman for the Vandals at defensive back, appearing in 44 games (18 starts), with 129 career tackles (eight for losses), with two interceptions, nine passes broken up, five fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
He was born December 6, 1994 in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and graduated from Rancho Cucamonga High School, where he lettered in football. A brother, Chris, was a defensive back at USC (2014-17) and a graduate assistant coach (2019) who now is coaching in the high school ranks.
Hawkins’ Year-by-Year History2020-2021: USC (Director of High School Relations)
2022: Colorado (Assistant Recruiting Coordinator)
2023: Arizona (Assistant Director of Recruiting and Defensive Analyst)
2024: Washington (Defensive Analyst)
2025-Present: North Carolina (Cornerbacks Coach)
