C.J. Ah You

C.J. Ah You, a former University of Oklahoma defensive standout and assistant, enters his third year as Vanderbilt’s defensive line coach.

In his second year at Vanderbilt, Ah You pupils Jonathan Wynn, Dare Odeyingbo and Dayo Odeyingbo combined for 8.5 quarterback sacks and 19 tackles for loss. After the season, Wynn signed an NFL rookie free agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings.

Senior defensive tackle Nifae Lealao also enjoyed his best year in 2017, registering 23 total tackles.

In 2016, senior lineman Adam Butler contributed a team-high four quarter-back sacks among 31 tackles under Ah You’s tutelage. Last year, Butler eventually started on the defensive line for the New England Patriots as a rookie free agent.

Ah You came to Derek Mason’s Vanderbilt staff after serving two years at Oklahoma. In 2015, Ah You assisted with an Oklahoma squad that finished 11-2, captured the Big 12 Conference championship, and played in the College Football Playoff national semifinals. The Sooners’ season was highlighted by regular season victories over Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State and Tennessee.

In 2015, Ah You assisted Oklahoma defensive line coach Diron Reynolds, who worked alongside Mason as a defensive staffer with the Minnesota Vikings in 2009.

The 2015 Oklahoma defense played an important role in the Sooners’ team success. The Sooner pass rush ranked sixth nationally with 40 quarterback sacks and helped produce 20 interceptions, eighth most in the NCAA. The unit was dominant against Big 12 competition, ranking among the conference leaders in scoring defense, total defense, defensive pass efficiency, sacks, interceptions and first downs allowed.

Anchoring the 2015 Sooner defense was senior defensive lineman Charles Tapper. A first team All-Big 12 selection from the Associated Press, Tapper registered seven quarterback sacks and four forced fumbles. He has been invited to play in the 2016 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Tapper’s defensive line teammate Charles Walker, also garnered All-Big 12 recognition this year.

A native of Southern California, Ah You was a two-year standout on the defensive front for the University of Oklahoma from 2005-06, helping the Sooners to a 19-7 overall record, the 2006 Big 12 title, and an appearance in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl. He also served as the Sooners’ defensive captain in 2006.

Ah You started 25 games for the Sooners at defensive end. As a senior in 2006, he earned first team All-Big 12 honors after contributing 41 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks.

Ah You also was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a junior in Norman after registering 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. He also earned Defensive MVP honors in the Holiday Bowl.

Selected by Buffalo in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft, Ah You eventually was a member of the St. Louis Rams from 2007-12. Though troubled by leg injuries during his NFL career, Ah You saw action in 33 games over three seasons as a pass-rush specialist, contributing six sacks among 41 tackles.

Ah You worked closely with several charities as an NFL player, including The United Way and Red Cross and the National Breast Cancer Foundation among others.

Ah You completed a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Oklahoma in 2006.

Ah You and his wife Chynea are the parents of four daughters: Makiah, Atiana, Alei’a and Milani.

Ah You’s Coaching Career

2016-18 – Vanderbilt – Defensive Line Coach
2014-15 – Oklahoma – Quality Control Assistant (Defense, Special Teams)