Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs
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Derrick Ansley enters his second season as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach on Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee staff.
Ansley previously coached defensive backs at Tennessee in 2012. A 15-year veteran of the coaching ranks, Ansley has lived up to his reputation as one of the nation’s most respected defensive minds and elite recruiters. He served a critical role in helping the Vols land a top 10 recruiting class of 2020.
In 2019, the Vol defense was exceptional, allowing only 334.5 yards per game – their best mark in a decade and finishing in the top 25 nationally. Under Ansley’s direction, Tennessee’s pass defense (194.0) finished No. 16 in the country, and the squad ranked No. 13 in interceptions (15), marking huge improvement from 2018 when UT allowed 222.9 passing yards per game and grabbed just nine interceptions.
Ansley came to the Vols following a one-year stint as the defensive backs coach for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders where his unit tallied 14 interceptions – up from five the year before.
He has coached 15 defensive backs that have been selected in the NFL Draft and six All-Americans, while winning two national championships at Alabama during stints as defensive backs coach (2016-17) and as a defensive graduate assistant (2010-11).
Ansley coached the cornerbacks (2013-14) and was the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach (2015) at Kentucky after a one-year stint with the defensive backs at Tennessee (2012).
THE ANSLEY FILE
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Hometown: Tallassee, Alabama
Education: Bachelor's Degree (Troy, 2005); Master's Degree (Alabama, 2011)
Playing Experience: Troy - DB (2001-04)
Wife: Alaea
Children: Selena
Coaching History
2005-09: Huntingdon College, Defensive Backs
2010-11: Alabama, Graduate Assistant
2012: Tennessee, Defensive Backs
2013-15: Kentucky, Defensive Backs
2016-17: Alabama, Defensive Backs
2018: Oakland Raiders, Defensive Backs
2019-present: Tennessee, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
Tennessee (2019-present)
In his first season as a collegiate defensive coordinator, Ansley’s Vol defense was outstanding, finishing in the top 25 nationally in total defense, pass defense and interceptions despite having 11 different first-time starters throughout the season, including five freshmen.
The Vols finished third in the SEC in sacks (34), fourth in pass defense (194.0), fourth in interceptions (15) and sixth in total defense (334.5).
Tennessee especially adept to limiting explosive plays, allowing only 10 plays of 30 yards or more – the fewest in the nation and 10 better than the previous year. The Vols also led the SEC by allowing the fewest number of plays of 20 yards or more (39).
Tennessee finished 8-5 overall and 5-3 in the SEC, capping the season with six straight wins and a 23-22 win over Indiana in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Ansley’s defense held the Hoosiers’ No. 15-ranked passing offense to only 227 yards and zero touchdowns with one interception.
The Vols started the season 1-4, but rebounded to win seven of eight games with the defense leading the way. During the six-game win streak to end the season, Ansley’s defense allowed only 15.5 points and 303.8 total yards per game. Both marks would have ranked in the top 10 in the nation if measured for the entire season.
Senior safety Nigel Warrior captured All-SEC First Team honors, while redshirt senior Darrell Taylor tied for second in the league in sacks with 8.5. Senior linebacker Daniel Bituli collected All-SEC Second Team honors after leading Tennessee with 88 tackles, and true freshman linebacker Henry To’o To’o started from Day 1 en route to freshman All-America and SEC All-Freshman accolades.
Taylor became the 16th Ansley-coached player drafted when the Seattle Seahawks selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Warrior signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens in April 2020.
Oakland Raiders (2018)
In 2018, Ansley coached a Raiders’ defensive back unit that improved dramatically from the year prior to his arrival. The Raiders increased their interception total by +9 under Ansley. Additionally, the Raiders totaled 73 passes defended in 2018 after tallying 56 in 2017.
Ansley coached Gareon Conley in Oakland. Conley finished fifth in the NFL with 15 passes defended as he made tremendous strides in his second year in the league, starting 14 games after appearing in only two games as a rookie.
Alabama (2016-17)
In 2016 and 2017, Ansley teamed with Pruitt as coaches of the nation’s top defenses at Alabama. The Crimson Tide had the nation’s No. 1 total defense and No. 1 scoring defense both seasons, leading the SEC in passing defense (165.7 ypg) and interceptions (19) in 2017 on its way to a College Football Playoff National Championship.
Alabama was tied for the SEC lead with 16 interceptions in 2016 and also led the nation with 11 defensive touchdowns.
Ansley directly coached six NFL Draft selections with the Crimson Tide from 2016-17, including first-round picks Minkah Fitzpatrick and Marlon Humphrey, as well as Ronnie Harrison, Anthony Averett, Eddie Jackson and Deionte Thompson. Fitzpatrick was a consensus All-American in 2016 and collected unanimous All-America honors in 2017, while also winning the Thorpe Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award. Humphrey grabbed first-team All-America honors in 2016, as well.
Kentucky (2013-15)
Ansley coached the cornerbacks (2013-14) and was the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach (2015) at Kentucky. In Lexington, Ansley helped the Wildcat defense record a school-record six defensive touchdowns while creating 23 turnovers that ranked second in the SEC in 2015. He helped develop future NFL Draft pick Mike Edwards from 2014-15, as well.
Tennessee (2012)
With the Vols in 2012, Ansley coached future NFL defensive backs Justin Coleman and Brian Randolph as well as safety Byron Moore, who led the SEC with five interceptions.
Alabama (2010-11)
Before his first stint on Rocky Top, Ansley was a graduate assistant at Alabama for two years. The Tide went 12-1 to claim the national championship in 2011, featuring the nation’s best defense, which ranked No. 1 nationally in scoring defense, total defense, pass defense and pass efficiency defense.
He worked with All-Americans Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick and DeQuan Menzie.
Huntingdon College (2005-09)
After he graduated college, Ansley spent five seasons coaching at Huntingdon College. During his tenure with the Hawks, Ansley helped guide the team to its first winning season and the school’s first playoff appearance.
Huntingdon produced a winning record in four of the five seasons he was on staff with two eight-win campaigns.
Background
Ansley starred on the gridiron at Troy, starting 40 consecutive games for the Trojans. He finished third in the nation in interceptions as a junior in 2003 with nine picks. Ansley then garnered first team All-Sun Belt Conference honors as a senior in 2004, Troy’s first season in the league. He finished second in Trojans’ history in interceptions (19) and teamed with future NFL All-Pros Demarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora.
Ansley and his wife, Alaea, have a daughter, Selena.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (2)
2017 – Alabama (Defensive Backs Coach)
2011 – Alabama (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (1)
2016 SEC – Alabama (Defensive Backs Coach)
BOWL GAMES COACHED IN (7)
2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl – Tennessee
2018 CFP National Championship Game – Alabama
2018 CFP National Semifinal Sugar Bowl – Alabama
2017 CFP National Championship Game – Alabama
2016 CFP National Semifinal Peach Bowl – Alabama
2012 BCS National Championship Game – Alabama
2011 Citrus Bowl – Alabama
BOWL GAMES PLAYED IN (1)
2004 Silicon Valley Classic - Troy
ALL-AMERICANS COACHED (5)
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick – Alabama – 2016 and 2017 Walter Camp, FWAA, Associated Press, Sporting News, AFCA, Sports Illustrated
DB Marlon Humphrey – Alabama – 2016 FWAA
DB Mark Barron – Alabama – 2011 Unanimous
DB Dre Kirkpatrick – Alabama – 2011 Associated Press
DB DeQuan Menzie – Alabama – 2011 AFCA
NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS COACHED (1)
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick – Alabama – 2017 Thorpe Award, Chuck Bednarik Award
NFL DRAFT PICKS COACHED (16 draft picks, 6 first rounders)
DE Darrell Taylor (RD 2) – Tennessee ’20 – Seattle Seahawks
DB Xavier McKinney (RD 2) – Alabama ’20 – Miami Dolphins
DB Trevon Diggs (RD 2) – Alabama ’20 – Dallas Cowboys
DB Mike Edwards (RD 3) – Kentucky ’19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DB Deionte Thompson (RD 5) – Alabama ’19 – Arizona Cardinals
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (RD 1) – Alabama ’18 – Miami Dolphins
DB Ronnie Harrison (RD 3) – Alabama ’18 – Jacksonville Jaguars
DB Anthony Averett (RD 4) – Alabama ’18 – Baltimore Ravens
DB Marlon Humphey (RD 1) – Alabama ’17 – Baltimore Ravens
DB Eddie Jackson (RD 4) – Alabama ’14 – Chicago Bears
DB Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (RD 1) – Alabama ’14 – Green Bay Packers
DB Vinnie Sunseri (RD 5) – Alabama ’14 – New Orleans Saints
DB Dee Milliner (RD 1) – Alabama ’13 – New York Jets
DB Mark Barron (RD 1) – Alabama ’12 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DB Dre Kirkpatrick (RD 1) – Alabama ’12 – Cincinnati Bengals
DB DeQuan Menzie (RD 5) – Alabama ’12 – Kansas City Chiefs
