Georgia Tech football hero Joe Hamilton is joining the Tech staff in an off-the-field capacity he says he hopes leads to an on-the-field assistant coaching job.

His title will be assistant director of player personnel, and his duties will include assisting with recruiting and being a resource for current players. His supervisor, Liam Klein, said Hamilton's hiring could be finalized as early as Friday .

"I'm willing to pay my dues. That's what I'm doing right now," said Hamilton, runner-up for the 1999 Heisman Trophy. "It would be fabulous to have my cake and eat it, too, to some day be coaching at Georgia Tech."

Hamilton, 31, received his history, technology and society degree from Tech last August. He quarterbacked the Jackets to a share of the 1998 ACC championship.

Like Klein, he won't be able to recruit off-campus or make phone calls to prospects, but he said knowing what it's like to play at Tech should help him as he shows recruits around campus and advises current Jackets.

His office will be next to the players' lounge, making him easily accessible.

"If they have a problem they don't want to go to their coach about or the head coach, I ought to be able to help them," Hamilton said.

Hamilton, who hopes to become a quarterbacks coach, played in the NFL and the Arena Football League but has no coaching experience. He said he's grateful to Tech coach Paul Johnson for finding a place for him.

"I'm excited to learn from him and his staff," Hamilton said.