Joe Freeland is in his 10th year as an assistant football coach at Hampden-Sydney College during 2025-26. He has coached 10-plus linemen and/or linebackers to either First, Second or Third Team All-ODAC honors.
Prior to joining the Tigers, Freeland served as the head coach at Randolph-Henry High School in Charlotte Court House from 2000-12. He sent 20 of his former players to college programs, including three who were later drafted and played in the NFL. Freeland was an assistant coach at Randolph-Henry from 1998-2000, and served in various capacities at the school from 1998-2020, including as Athletic Director (2002-08) and chairman of health & physical education and driver’s education (2010-2020).
Freeland was the head coach at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham from 1991-98, during which time 231 of his former players went to college programs and 24 signed NFL contracts. He also served as Hargrave’s chief of staff—second in command—to the academy’s president (1995-97).
He served as an assistant coach at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia from 1986-90. Freeland was the program’s offensive coordinator, working with the offensive line and receivers. He also served as the school’s baseball head coach (1987-90), and was an instructor of health & physical education during his time there, as well.
Freeland was an assistant coach for both football and track and field at Washington and Lee University in Lexington from 1982-86. He coached linebackers and defensive ends, offensive lineman as well as the punters and kickers. Freeland worked with the throwers in track and field.
He played professionally in the American Football Association during the summers of 1981 and 1982, earning a tryout with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. Freeland served as the head track coach and an assistant football coach at Rappahannock High School in Warsaw during 1980-81.
Freeland graduated from Bridgewater College in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in health & physical education, and earned his Master of Science degree in health & physical education from Radford University in 1982.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Joe and his wife, Alison, reside in Keysville and have two sons, Nathaniel and Conner.
Â
