WR PLANS TRANSFER TO ALABAMA Gehrig Dieter Will Join Crimson Tide This Summer

WR PLANS TRANSFER TO ALABAMA
Gehrig Dieter Will Join Crimson Tide This Summer

Tider Insider’s Rodney Orr spoke to Derek Dieter, the father of Bowling Green WR Gehrig Dieter, who announced via Twitter his plans to transfer to Alabama. As a graduate transfer, the 6-3 1/2, 210-pound Dieter will be eligible for the 2016 season. He plans to arrive at UA in late May to begin the summer program.
“I don’t know who’s more excited, me and his mom, or him,” Derek Dieter says. “It’s just a phenomenal opportunity for him.”
“He’s always been an extremely hard worker and has always been focused on football. So this is the perfect opportunity. When you have that (mindset) you want to play for the best. He couldn’t be more excited. We’re really looking forward to watching him play for Alabama.”
Dieter was a Parade AA coming out of South Bend, IN. He spent his freshman season in 2012 at SMU. He played in five games that season. He transferred to Bowling Green, where last season he caught 94 passes for 1,033 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Dieter was one of only five receivers in the nation last season to have 90+ receptions and over 1,000 yards receiving and at least 10 TDs.
As a high school star in South Bend, Dieter set the national HS record with 437 yards receiving in a single game. The record has since been broken.
Dieter also became the first HS receiver nationally to post three consecutive 300+ yard receiving games.
Against Tennessee last season, Dieter had seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown.
Dieter’s two brothers attend Bowling Green. His father is a huge New York Yankees fan. So it’s no surprise that Gehrig was named after Lou Gehrig. Gehrig’s brother, Nolan, was named after former MLB pitcher Nolan Ryan. And his brother, Thurman, was named after former Yankee catcher Thurman Munson.
Dieter and his family will visit Alabama this weekend.

SABAN HIRES SECONDARY COACH
Derrick Ansley Will Coach Defensive Backs at Alabama

University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced the hiring of Derrick Ansley last week 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.
*UA Media Relations