Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech tabs Albury as defensive line coach
February 13, 2026 | Football
Former Minnesota Vikings assistant defensive line coach joins Red Raider coaching staff
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire announced Friday the hiring of former Minnesota Vikings assistant coach Imarjaye Albury Sr. as the Red Raiders' new defensive line coach.
Albury arrives at Texas Tech following six seasons in various roles with the Vikings, including five on the coaching staff where he rose to assistant defensive line coach. The Vikings made two playoff appearances during his tenure thanks to a 14-3 record in 2024 and a 13-4 campaign in 2022.
"With our success this past season, we received significant interest in this position with Coach Albury really standing out early in the process for his experience at the NFL level and ability to develop players," McGuire said. "He will be a great addition to our defensive staff room under Coach (Shiel) Wood. Most importantly, Coach Albury will be someone our players love playing for as he will develop them on-and-off the field."
Albury began his tenure in Minnesota as a defensive quality control and assistant linebackers coach from 2020-21 before transitioning to the front office as a pro scout during the 2022 season. He was named a defensive assistant a year later, working with the outside linebackers during the 2023-24 campaigns before being named the assistant defensive line coach this past season.
Minnesota ranked tied for fourth in the NFL for sacks during the 2025 season, totaling 49.0 as a team with Albury's unit combining for 15.0 on their own. Jalen Redmond led the defensive line with 6.0 sacks in only his second NFL season, developing from an undrafted free agent who originally signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2023 to one of the Vikings' leaders in the middle. The Vikings were previously second in the NFL with 51.0 sacks during Albury's second season on staff in 2021, their most since 1992.
Albury played an integral role in Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in their respective careers during the 2024 season. Greenard led the Vikings with 12.0 sacks while Van Ginkel was a half-sack behind to form the only NFL duo with at least 11.5 sacks on the season. The pair both ranked in the top 10 among the NFL sacks leaders that season with Greenard tied for fifth overall and Van Ginkel tied for eighth. Van Ginkel, who was also the only NFL player to return multiple interceptions for touchdowns during the 2024 season, was a second team Associated Press All-Pro selection.
In addition, fellow outside linebacker Pat Jones recorded a career-high 7.0 sacks in 2024, making the Vikings one of only three NFL teams with at least three players with at least 7.0 sacks. Albury was also instrumental in the development of rookie Dallas Turner, the 17th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Turner was one of three rookies in 2024 with at least one interception and multiple sacks.
In his first season back from his front office role, Albury was part of a Vikings team that improved from 31st overall in 2022 to 16th in 2023, posting top-eight rankings in both rushing yards per play (fourth) and rushing yards per game (eighth). Minnesota led the NFL with 21 forced fumbles, marking the most by the Vikings since 2007.
Albury joined the Vikings staff following two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Arkansas where he worked primarily with the defensive line. He coached one of his future players while with the Razorbacks in Armon Watts, who developed into a sixth-round pick of the 2019 NFL Draft by Minnesota after recording 7.0 sacks as a senior in 2018.
Albury began his coaching career at Corland State University in 2017, a NCAA Division III school in New York. Albury oversaw Cortland's special teams and worked with the defensive line that season, mentoring a unit that recorded 31.0 sacks, which ranked second in the Empire 8 Conference. Albury's special teams unit also led the conference with six blocked field goals.
As a player, Albury spent one season at West Virginia in 2012 before transferring to Florida International where he was a three-year starter along the defensive line. Albury combined for 76 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks over 36 games at FIU, serving as a team captain as a senior. Albury, who was also the program's Defensive MVP that season, played in the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and participated in mini-camps with the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Chargers before joining the coaching profession.
Albury, a native of Miami, Florida, and his wife, Brittany, have a son, Imarjaye Jr., who goes by "Junior," and a daughter, Jordyn.
IMARJAYE ALBURY SR. COACHING EXPERIENCE
2025 – Minnesota Vikings Assistant Coach (Asst. Defensive Line)
2023-24 – Minnesota Vikings Defensive Assistant (Outside Linebackers)
2022 – Minnesota Vikings Pro Scout
2020-21 – Minnesota Vikings Defensive Quality Control (Asst. Linebackers)
2018-19 – Arkansas Graduate Assistant (Defensive Line)
2017 – Cortland State Assistant Coach (Defensive Line/Special Teams)
PRONUNCIATION
Imarjaye Albury Sr. – im-MAR-jay AL-berry
