Alabama lands new assistant coach

After nearly a month after losing a key defensive coach, the University of Alabama football program found its man, and the name should be familiar.

Derrick Ansley, a native of Tallassee, Ala. who served as a graduate assistant at Alabama from 2010-11, will be the Crimson Tide's new defensive assistant coach, The Tuscaloosa News has learned.

It is believed that Ansley will coach the secondary and that first-year defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt will work with the inside linebackers. Mel Tucker, who coached the secondary last season, went to Georgia with former UA defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.

Ansley's experience with UA coach Nick Saban and his skills as a recruiter made him a prime candidate for Saban, who has often said he likes young graduate assistants to go elsewhere and gain experience before bringing them back.

Ansley's time as a graduate assistant in Tuscaloosa was successful with UA going 22-4 in two seasons and winning a national championship.

He was recently named the co-defenisve coordinator at Kentucky. He spent one season at Tennessee in 2012 and arrived in Lexington in 2013, where he coached the secondary.

He played at Troy and was a first-0team All-Sun Belt player in 2004.

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.