Ashley Ambrose Position: Defensive Backs Birthdate: 09/17/1970 Experience: 2nd Season at Cal Alma Mater: Mississippi Valley State (1992)

Ashley Ambrose is in his first season as the defensive backs coach at Cal in 2011. The 13-year NFL veteran and 1996 AFC Defensive Back of the Year spent the last three seasons on the Colorado football staff, including the 2010 campaign as the defensive backs coach after serving as the receivers coach in 2009 and a defensive technical intern in 2008.

Ashley brings a lot of credibility to the defensive backs coaching position being an NFL player himself for a long time," head coach Jeff Tedford said. "When he talks to the kids about fundamentals, confidence and the way to play that position the players have a great deal of respect for him. He's brought a lot of great energy and I'm looking forward to that group learning a lot from him. He is a bright young and upcoming coach with a tremendous amount of football experience."

During his lone season working with the Colorado defensive backs in 2010, Ambrose coached senior Jimmy Smith to first-team All-Big 12 honors and helped him become a first-round selection of the Baltimore Ravens (27th pick overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft. As a senior in 2010, the cornerback recorded a career-high 70 tackles, including a team-best 52 solo stops. Smith, who also co-led the team with five pass breakups, was the only Colorado defensive player named to the All-Big 12 first or second team, improving his status from an honorable mention All-Big 12 choice the year before Ambrose coached him. Another 2010 Ambrose pupil, senior cornerback Jalil Brown, was an honorable mention selection for the second consecutive season and shared the team lead along with Smith with five pass breakups. Brown was taken in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ambrose brought a wealth of professional football experience to a coaching career that began in 2006 as an intern coach with the Atlanta Falcons. After being selected by Indianapolis in the second round (29th pick overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft, he went on to play 13 seasons in the league, four with the Colts (1992-95), three with Cincinnati (1996-98), three with New Orleans (1999, 2003-04) and three with Atlanta (2000-02). He earned All-Pro honors with the Bengals in 1996, when he was also the AFC Defensive Back of the Year. Ambrose posted career totals of 42 interceptions (tied for 64th all-time through the 2010 season), returning three for touchdowns, 178 pass deflections and 514 tackles (464 solo).

After 192 games and 141 NFL starts, he retired from professional football following the 2004 season.

Ambrose earned his bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology in 1992 from Mississippi Valley State, where he lettered four years at cornerback. He had 17 interceptions, 40 pass deflections and 110 tackles, as well as seven kick returns for touchdowns (four punt, three kickoff) during his college playing career.

He has long been active in community service, as he developed the "Ashley Ambrose All-A's Club" that rewarded high school football players who excelled academically. He also participated in VH-1's Save the Music program and in the NFL United Way Hometown Huddle campaign among the many things he did as a professional athlete, which included donating hundreds of tickets to scholar-athletes.

A native of New Orleans, Ambrose graduated from Alcee Fortier High School in 1988, where he lettered in football, basketball, and track and field. He is the father of two children, Aisha and A.J.

LAST UPDATED: August 20, 2011