A 2022 graduate of Hillsdale College, it didn't take long for Josef Hissom to return home when the opportunity presented itself.

Just four months after walking across the stage at Commencement and receiving his Bachelor's of Arts degree in History and Economics, the former football player and student at Hillsdale took a position with the Charger coaching staff as the Director of Football Operations and the team's wide receivers coach for the 2022 campaign. For his second season, in 2023, Hissom is returning to the position he played in college, taking over as the running backs coach for the program. 

Hillsdale is a familiar place for Hissom to break into the coaching profession. The former collegiate running back spent five seasons at Hillsdale from 2017 to 2021, appearing in every game in his final three seasons as a part of the team's tailback rotation and on special teams. During his time with the Chargers, Hissom logged 111 carries and helped Hillsdale pull out narrow victories at Northwood on Oct. 12, 2019 and at Walsh on April 10, 2021 with a rushing touchdown in each contest. Along with multiple Academic All-Conference honors, Hissom also earned membership in the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society for his achievements on and off the football field.

From early in his college career, Hissom had set a goal of becoming a college football coach after graduation, and he put in the work both during his playing career and after to make that a reality. In the spring semester after his final college football season, Hissom helped out with the Hillsdale football team in the running backs room, helping players break down film and providing additional feedback and advice. It was in those meetings that Hillsdale College head coach Keith Otterbein identified Hissom's potential as a future coach, and when the Chargers had a sudden opening intheir staff in the fall, Hissom was one of the names at the top of Otterbein's list.

In between graduation and his return to Hillsdale in the fall, Hissom spent the summer of 2022 as a graduate assistant with the football program at Division I Troy University in Troy, Alabama. When the Director of Football Operations job at Hillsdale came open in August, Hissom decided to return to his alma mater.

Along with his duties as a position coach, Hissom also will manage the team's uniforms and equipment, practice setup and film in his role as Director of Football Operations, along with other tasks.

A native of Spring Lake, Michigan, Hissom earned first-team All-Lakes 8 Conference honors in football for Spring Lake High School, and also qualified for the state meet as a wrestler for the Lakers during his prep career. 

Hissom currently resides in Hillsdale, Michigan.