Familiarity with Chargers’ defensive backs aiding new secondary coach Derrick Ansley
Defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley is tasked with working with a talented group of players heading into the 2021 season.
Luckily for him, familiarity with a few of the key players in the secondary has helped with the transition in his new role.
Before taking the job with the Chargers, Ansley had forms of connections to Derwin James, Nasir Adderley, Brandon Facyson and Asante Samuel Jr.
At media availability, Ansley elaborated on the ties between him and those four.
“It’s been an easy transition,” Ansley mentioned. “Going back to when Derwin was a recruit coming out of Haines City, Fla. then going to Florida St., I had a chance to recruit him when I was at Alabama. Having Nas at the Senior Bowl, knowing Facyson from high school.
Just knowing all these guys, even Asante (Samuel Jr.) recruiting him out of St. Thomas, it just made transition a lot smoother. Not coming in here being the guy who doesn’t really know anybody. We kind of all knew of each other and that kind of helped us gel quickly.”
Prior to taking the job with Los Angeles, Ansley worked as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the University of Tennessee. He has also coached for the Raiders, the University of Alabama, among other college programs.
