Chargers hire Ansley as defensive coordinator

The Chargers on Monday made official the promotion of Derrick Ansley to defensive coordinator and completed the hiring process for Brandon Staley's coaching staff for the 2023 season. Ansley's elevation from secondary coach was first reported last week by ESPN and the NFL Network.

In addition, the Chargers promoted Tom Donatell to passing game/secondary coach from his previous role as assistant secondary coach. They also hired Doug

Nussmeier as quarterbacks coach, Jeff Howard as linebackers coach and Robert Muschamp as defensive quality control coach.

Ansley replaced Renaldo Hill, who left to join new Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio after two seasons as the Chargers' defensive coordinator. The Chargers were fourthranked in passing defense in the AFC since Ansley was hired as secondary

Ansley coach in 2021.

Donatell, like Ansley, joined Staley's staff before the 2021 season, and was his assistant secondary coach, working with three-time Pro Bowl selection Derwin James Jr. Donatell spent four seasons as an assistant with the Seattle Seahawks after two seasons with UCLA and two with South Florida.

Nussmeier spent the past three seasons as the Dallas Cowboys' quarterbacks coach. He was reunited with former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who was hired to replace Joe Lombardi as the Chargers' offensive coordinator Jan. 30. Lombardi was fired Jan. 17, after the Chargers' playoff exit Jan. 14.

Shane Day, the Chargers' passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach, also was fired Jan. 17.

After tutoring Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, Nussmeier will now work with Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who passed for 4,739 yards this past season, second in the NFL behind Patrick Mahomes, quarterback of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, who threw for 5,250 yards.

Nussmeier, like Herbert, is an Oregon native.

Howard joined the Chargers after three seasons with the Cleveland Browns and seven with the Minnesota Vikings. He was the Browns' pass game coordinator/ defensive backs coach and also coached the Vikings' linebackers during his tenure with Minnesota.

Muschamp spent the past two seasons with the two-time NCAA champion University of Georgia serving as a defensive quality control coach for the Bulldogs. He also was a graduate assistant with the University of Tennessee after his playing days as a tight end at Auburn.