Derrick Ansley: Tennessee’s First Black Defense Coordinator who has been Churning Out Talents at College Level

When Tennessee Volunteers announced their coaching staff in February ahead of the 2019 NFL season, a 37-year old Derrick Ansley was to join in Jeremy Pruitt’s (head coach) staff as a defensive coordinator and a defensive backs coach.

“I think it’s important for all universities — not just the University of Tennessee — to really consider diversity moving forward. You talk about the men that we coach and the impact that we can have on their lives for the future. I think we have great coaches on our staff. I think Derrick Ansley will do a fantastic job for us. He’s a guy that I’ve worked with in the past, and he’s a good friend of mine.”

This is what Vols head coach had to say then. After all, Derrick Ansley is the first black defensive coordinator at Tennessee in the 123 seasons of Tennessee football.

Ansley was coming to Tennessee after influencing an impressive turnover in the defensive record of Oakland Raiders– where he increased their tally of interceptions from 5 to 14 in an year with them.

And he was no one season wonder for he had proved throughout his 14 year career in coaching that he is one of the best in developing defensive backs.

He has coached 13 defensive backs that have been selected in the NFL Draft and five 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).

But before starting his career as a coach, Ansley, like many other 20-year old football enthusiasts in Alabama, was a high time NFL aspirant. Ansley graduated from the Tallassee High School in Alabama in 2000 as a football star. During his senior year in high school, a year before Ansley graduated, he steered his team to a record number of wins by a Tallassee High School squad. This paved way for him playing college football at the Troy university.

“I’m just focused on doing a good job for this year for these kids. If you do a good job, then the race part won’t matter.”– Ansley

He has always played as a defensive back- the position he went on to master as a coach. He played as a defensive back for the Trojan football team from 2001 to 2004. Ansley began to shine right from his junior days.  As a junior, Ansley finished second in the nation in interceptions with nine overall. There was a time in his college career where he started 40 consecutive games for Trojan football. After an all-conference career as a defensive back, Ansley finished second in Trojans’ history in interceptions (19).

Coaching career-

Starting his coaching career at a young age of 24, Ansley is now a well sought after mentor and he is the man who is playing an influential hand in the upbringing of defensive talent from the college level to NFL level.

Ansley began his coaching career in 2005 with the Huntingdon College in NCAA Division III. He worked with defensive backs there for from 2005 to 20009. He produced a winning record in four of the five seasons he was on staff.

His first stint at the top level came with the Oakland Raiders in 2018, where he improved their defensive record dramatically. Prior to that, he worked for 13 season with various college teams.

After a five season stint at Huntingdon college, Ansley moved back to his home town to work for the University of Alabama. He later worked as cornerback coach by the University of Tennesse, where he is now a defensive consultant. Just before his second stint in Alabama , he spent three seasons at the University of Kentucky.

After a fruitful season in NFL, Ansley is now back to college football, becoming the first black defensive coordinator.

“It means a lot being the first one, and hopefully I won’t be the last,” Ansley had said.

“I’m just focused on doing a good job for this year for these kids. If you do a good job, then the race part won’t matter.” said Ansley, who continues to churn out defensive talents.

Achievements of Derrick Ansley-

National Championships
2017 – Alabama (Defensive Backs Coach)
2011 – Alabama (Defensive Graduate Assistant)

Conference Championships
2016 SEC – Alabama (Defensive Backs Coach)

All-Americans Coached
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick – Alabama ’16 & ‘17 – Walter Camp, FWAA, Associated Press, Sporting News, AFCA and Sports Illustrated
DB Marlon Humphrey – Alabama ’16 – FWAA
DB Mark Barron – Alabama ’11 – Unanimous
DB Dre Kirkpatrick – Alabama ’11 – Associated Press
DB DeQuan Menzie – Alabama ’11 – AFCA

National Award Winners Coached
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick – Alabama ’17 – Thorpe Award, Chuck Bednarik Award

NFL Draft Picks Coached (13 draft picks, 6 first round)
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