Payton Dixon has been a member of the football staff since 2019 where he has coached on both sides of the football as well as special teams. He serves a the program's Director of Football Operations and coaches the outside linebackers.

In 2019, the Tusculum defense led the South Atlantic Conference in defensive touchdowns scored (3 - 23rd in NCAA II), first down defense (175 - 21st in NCAA II), and fourth-down percentage defense (.286 - 10th in NCAA II). Tusculum was also 28th in the country in total defense (309 ypg).  Four members of the TU defense also earned All-South Atlantic Conference recognition.

Spending the first half of 2019 in the Lanier County School System in Georgia, Dixon held a variety of positions. He was the head middle school baseball coach, an assistant junior varsity and varsity baseball coach, and the varsity football wide receivers coach.

For all of 2018, Dixon was a defensive student assistant/graduate assistant at Valdosta State University. The Blazers went undefeated and were the 2018 NCAA Division II National Champions. VSU was ranked in the top-12 in three division statistical categories, including first in defensive touchdowns with seven as the Blazers also captured the Gulf South Conference title.

The Blazers were listed second in three conference categories and third in another. The defense had two players drafted professionally. While at VSU, Dixon’s responsibilities included film breakdown, scout team and camp operations, and individual practice drills with the nickel backs and punt returners.

The Thomasville, Georgia native spent three seasons as a quarterback and special teams coach at Pelham High School. The Hornets saw their first postseason action in 2AA in his first season, with a regional championship coming in his second. Pelham reached the second round of the playoffs in his last season. Dixon worked with offensive and special teams game-planning, alongside his role as the junior varsity offensive coordinator. He helped to breakdown game film and run practice drills with the quarterbacks and returners.

Dixon graduated cum laude from Valdosta State with a degree in middle grades education, concentrating in math and science. He spent time at Albany State and Snead State Community College playing baseball. Dixon is a member of the Alpha Chi Honors Society and the Sigma Chi International fraternity, serving in executive leadership roles. He graduated from Tusculum in 2021 with his master's degree.