Oakland Raiders lose huge asset in departing DB coach Derrick Ansley

The Oakland Raiders coaching staff took a huge hit on Friday, as defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley heads back to college at Tennessee.

The Oakland Raiders will have a gaping hole in their coaching staff next season, as defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley is heading back to college according to 24/7 Sports. Ansley accepted a role on the Tennessee Volunteers staff, barring any hiccups, and will return to the school where he coached seven years ago.

In his only season in the NFL, and with the Raiders, Ansley helped turn around the careers of two of the Raiders previous three first round draft picks. Cornerback Gareon Conley looks to be an elite player at his position thanks to Ansley, and Karl Joseph is finally becoming the punishing safety the team hoped he be when they selected him out of West Virginia.

Ansley came to the Raiders via the Alabama Crimson Tide, whom he helped to the national title before leaving for the NFL. Head coach Jon Gruden was ecstatic about the hire when Ansley came aboard, and you have to think both him, and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther are upset about this move.

The Raiders secondary has struggled for years, and it was good to see guys who many considered a bust take off in 2018. Conley and Joseph will be cornerstones for this secondary moving forward, but will now have a new position coach in 2019 and beyond.

For Ansley, this is a wise move in terms of his career, as he will likely get to be a co-defensive coordinator for the Volunteers. He continues to build up his resume, andyou have to think he has the defensive knowledge, and coaching skills to at least be a coordinator at the NFL level down the road.

Congratulations to Coach Ansley, who was such an asset to this Raiders team last season. It would have been great to have him aboard another year, as guys seem to just be rounding the corner, but we know the Volunteers will be better thanks to this hire.