Derrick Ansley on Tom Donatell’s promotion to key role on Chargers’ defense: ‘Tommy is sharp’
The Chargers made significant changes to their coaching staff last week, naming former defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley as their new defensive coordinator among other moves.
In comments to the media after his promotion, Ansley made a point to indicate his faith in new secondary coach and pass game coordinator Tom Donatell, who will fill the void left by Ansley’s ascension to his new position.
“Well-deserved, well-deserved. Tommy is sharp,” Ansley said of his new secondary coach. “He’s a guy whose arrow is on the up rise. He’s very professional, very knowledgeable on the backend and the front.
This promotion was warranted. We all know what we have in him, the organization knows what they have in him. It’s awesome to see a guy work his way up through the organization and get an opportunity to be successful.”
Donatell had previously served as the Chargers’ assistant secondary coach, where he helped standout safety Derwin James and rising cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. rise to stardom in Los Angeles’ defense.
Time will tell how these coaches fit in Brandon Staley’s defensive coaching staff. But early indications are that both Ansley and Donatell will be chomping at the bit to help the Chargers find success in the playoffs next season by any means necessary.
