Derrick Ansley was once a Division-III assistant working his way up the college football coaching ladder from seemingly the bottom rung. Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., didn’t have a winning season in program history before Ansley arrived as its defensive backs coach, but five seasons later in 2009, the team received its first ever playoff berth.

Much else has changed since. Ansley rose quickly in the profession as defensive backs coach at Tennessee (2012), Kentucky (2013-15) and Alabama (2016-18). His next career move, though, will harken back his Huntingdon days with one specific mantra: Embrace the rebuild.

Ansley will join Colorado State’s staff as defensive coordinator just as soon as the Crimson Tide are done playing Georgia in Monday night’s national championship game, a source close to the Rams confirmed to The Denver Post. He arrives in Fort Collins with the ultimate blank slate — final say hiring every defensive position coach; a roster void of 12 graduated defensive seniors; and a 17-member early signing class that includes 12 newcomers on defense.

It will also be the first time Ansley, 36, has served as a full-time defensive coordinator.

A whole lot of responsibility without a whole lot of experience. A cause for concern? Maybe decide after watching the Tide secondary against Georgia.

A long line of pro-ready Alabama defensive backs have continued to develop under Ansley’s leadership. The Tide leads the nation in pass efficiency defense and gave up just seven touchdowns through the air all year entering Monday. Junior defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick is projected by most as a first-round pick in April’s NFL Draft, and Alabama signed a trio of four-star rated defensive backs last month. The Nick Saban coaching tree has also produced several prominent names: Mark Dantonio, Jimbo Fisher, Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain, Lane Kiffin and Kirby Smart.

Ansley might be next, but first, he’ll have to whip up some Huntingdon magic with the Rams. Related Articles Mike Bobo: Consistency earned former CSU QB Collin Hill starting South Carolina job

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Bobo was correct to clean house defensively when given the opportunity. CSU allowed 13 rushing touchdowns over its final five games and the Rams gave up more than 250 yards passing on six different occasions. In the 31-28 New Mexico Bowl loss, Marshall hit on scoring plays of 68, 76 and 90 yards. That won’t cut it for a conference title contender.

It would be wise to allow for a learning curve, though, for Ansley in this new endeavor. The Rams’ first three games next fall are a buzz saw: vs. Colorado, vs. Arkansas and at Florida. Full judgement on the hire might not become clear until Year 2 or 3 with the program.

But CSU’s increased financial commitment to football through salary boosts, contract extensions and facility upgrades still ramps up the pressure to field an immediate winner in 2018, or at least more than seven-total victories as the Rams have done in each of the past three years. CSU stockpiled enough talent offensively to produce among the Mountain West’s elite. It’s due time the defense caught up.

It would appear Bobo has found his desired match to make it happen, as he described back in December.

“There are a lot of people out there that I know in this business that are good coaches, have been at good places and done a lot of great things,” Bobo said. “But I’ve got to find the right fit for this football team and this program.”