Report: Alabama DB coach Derrick Ansley to join Oakland Raiders
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Alabama defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley has agreed to join the Oakland Raiders’ coaching staff at the same position, according to multiple reports Thursday morning.
FootballScoop reported Monday that Ansley had taken the defensive coordinator job at Colorado State. However, that deal is now off as he will join newly-hired head coach Jon Gruden in the NFL.
This season, Ansley has helped coach an Alabama pass defense that ranks No. 6 in the nation, holding opponents to 165.7 yards per game through the air. During Monday night’s 26-23 overtime win over Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, the Crimson Tide held Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm to 16 of 32 passing with 232 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
Ansley, a native of Alabama, took over Alabama’s secondary in 2016. Before that, he spent three seasons at Kentucky, serving as the cornerbacks coach from 2013-14 and secondary coach in 2015. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator for the 2016 season before accepting the position with the Crimson Tide. Before serving at Kentucky, he spent the 2012 season as the defensive backs coach at Tennessee.
Ansley played at Troy and coached five years at Division III Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., before joining Alabama as a graduate assistant in 2010-11.
He is the second Alabama defensive assistant to leave this offseason as former defensive coordinator Jeremey Pruitt accepted the Tennessee head coaching job in December.
Alabama hired former UTSA defensive coordinator Pete Golding last month. While his role has yet to be announced, Golding has experience coaching defensive backs in the past. Alabama now has two open coaching spots available for next year’s staff.