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University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced the hiring of Derrick Ansley on Wednesday to coach the defensive backs for the Crimson Tide.Ansley spent the past three seasons at the University of Kentucky as the cornerbacks coach (2013-14), secondary coach (2015) and was recently promoted to co-defensive coordinator for the 2016 season before accepting the position with the Crimson Tide.

“We are very happy to have Derrick and his family back at Alabama,” Saban said. “Derrick did an outstanding job when he was with us as a graduate assistant, and he has a very good understanding of how we run our program and what is expected. He is a bright young coach, and he will be a great addition working with the defensive backs. We also believe he will be a tremendous asset to our staff in the recruiting process.”

Ansley, who served as a defensive graduate assistant at Alabama during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, helped the UK defense record a school-record six defensive touchdowns while creating 23 turnovers that ranked second in the SEC in 2015.

He joined the Wildcats’ staff after spending the 2012 season as the defensive backs coach at Tennessee where he helped the Volunteers improve their national ranking in interceptions by 30 places. He came to UT in February of 2012 after accepting the position of defensive backs coach at Central Florida in December of 2011.

“I have incredible admiration for The University of Alabama and the organization Coach Saban has built, especially after spending a couple of seasons here as a graduate assistant, which was instrumental in my development as a coach. I am so appreciative of the opportunity Coach Saban is giving me because as a defensive coach it doesn’t get any better. Having grown up in the state of Alabama, I also have a tremendous understanding of the tradition and history of Crimson Tide football and what a special place it is to work. I look forward to doing my part to help continue the success this program has enjoyed.”

Ansley’s two seasons in Tuscaloosa saw Alabama produce at 22-4 record and the 2011 BCS National Championship. The Crimson Tide went 10-3 in his first season at the Capstone, punctuated by a win over Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl over Michigan State. 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 during his time at Alabama.

He spent five seasons coaching at NCAA Division III Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., before taking the graduate assistant position at Alabama. 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.

Ansley starred on the gridiron at Troy University in the early 2000s, starting 40 consecutive games for the Trojans. A defensive back by trade, 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 graduated in 2005 from Troy with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and worked toward a master’s degree in sports management in the human environmental sciences college during his time as a graduate assistant at Alabama.

A native of Tallassee, Ala., Ansley and his wife Alaea have a daughter, Selena.

All such employment contracts are subject to approval by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

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