Report: Chargers Promote Two Coaches in Wake of Renaldo Hill's Exit to Dolphins

Additional changes to the Chargers coaching staff are on the horizon.

Nicholas Cothrel | Feb 20, 2023

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The coaching staff shakeup continues to grow in size for the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason.

Chargers defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill is leaving his current position with the club to join the Miami Dolphins as their pass-game coordinator, as first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. In a corresponding move, the Chargers plan to promote Derrick Ansley to defensive coordinator and Tommy Donatell to secondary coach/pass game coordinator.

Hill will reunite with Vic Fangio, who he coached under from 2019-2020 with the Denver Broncos as the team's defensive backs coach. This won't be the first time Hill joins the Dolphins' coaching staff as he served as Miami's assistant defensive backs coach in 2018.

With the move for Hill being a step back in regards to coaching hierarchy, the Chargers held the capabilities to block his departure to Miami. Perhaps Brandon Staley and Hill met on mutual ground, agreeing that change could be what's best for both parties after an up-and-down 2022 season.

By the Chargers opting to not block the Dolphins most recent coaching hire under Fangio, it allows Staley to promote two defensive coaches in Ansley and Donatell – both of which are viewed across the league as bright young coaches.

Ansley, 41, has spent the past two seasons with the Chargers, coaching up the defensive backs. He's never been a coordinator in the NFL, but has held the role for two seasons at the University of Tennessee from 2019-2020.

Donatell drew some interest throughout this year's hiring cycle, also with the Dolphins for their vacant defensive backs coach position. In his third season with the Chargers, Donatell will enter a more prominent role, attempting to make his mark in assisting the the unit's pass-defense.

In totality, the Chargers will have six new coaches in different roles for the upcoming season: Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, Doug Nussmeier as quarterbacks coach, Ansley as defensive coordinator, Jeff Howard as inside linebackers coach, Donatell as secondary coach/pass game coordinator and Robert Muschamp as the defensive quality control coach.

After posting a record of 10-7, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2018, it was clear the Chargers left a lot to be desired in both aspects – offense and defense – when they blew a 27-point lead to the Jaguars in the Wild Card Round that ultimately ended their season. With an abundance of new additions to the coaching staff – some of which were internal promotions – the Chargers are aiming for better results in the season ahead.

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