Texas Tech Defense: Five Coaches, Five Fundamentals

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Texas High School Coaches Association

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Jacques (Jacquies) Smith
Outside Linebackers Coach, Texas Tech

Jacquies Smith joined Texas Tech in February 2026 as outside linebackers coach after two seasons in the same role with the Atlanta Falcons, where he helped the team's pass rush produce 31 sacks and 71 quarterback hits in his final season. A Dallas native and South Oak Cliff High School graduate, Smith previously coached at Texas as a graduate assistant, at Louisiana-Lafayette as a defensive quality control coach, and at Episcopal School of Dallas. He played defensive end at Missouri from 2008 to 2011, earning two-time All-Big 12 honors and team captain honors, before a seven-year NFL career that included stops with the Buccaneers, Lions, Cardinals, and Raiders, finishing with 13.5 career sacks.

Imarjaye Albury Sr.
Defensive Line Coach, Texas Tech

Imarjaye Albury Sr. joined Texas Tech in February 2026 as defensive line coach, bringing nearly a decade of NFL and collegiate experience. He arrived after six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, rising from defensive quality control and assistant linebackers coach to assistant defensive line coach, a stretch that included two playoff appearances. Before the NFL, Albury coached at Cortland State, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, Western Carolina, Ave Maria University, and Arkansas. A Miami native, Albury played defensive line at West Virginia before transferring to Florida International, where he was a three-year starter and team captain.

Taylor Young
Assistant Inside Linebackers Coach, Texas Tech

Taylor Young enters his second season on the Texas Tech staff as a defensive quality control coach working with the inside linebackers, having previously served as a graduate assistant at Baylor and a quality control assistant at North Texas. Young starred at linebacker for Baylor, totaling 325 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, and 15.5 sacks over four seasons, earning three-time All-Big 12 honors, the 2014 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year award, and Defensive MVP of the 2015 Cotton Bowl. His final season at Baylor coincided with Joey McGuire's arrival on staff as an assistant coach. Young remains among the program's career leaders in tackles for loss, solo tackles, and sacks.

Jah'Shawn Johnson
Assistant Defensive Backs Coach, Texas Tech

Jah'Shawn Johnson enters his fifth season on the Texas Tech staff, working with the cornerbacks. Before returning to his alma mater, Johnson coached defensive backs at Ennis High School under legendary head coach Sam Harrell, helping the program reach the area round of the playoffs in both of his seasons there. As a Texas Tech player, Johnson was a two-year team captain and four-year starter in the secondary, recording 298 tackles, six interceptions, and 14 pass breakups from 2014 to 2018.

Dave Martin
Director of Player Development, Texas Tech

Dave Martin joined Texas Tech's charter staff under Joey McGuire in November 2021 as Director of Player Development. He began his coaching career alongside McGuire at Cedar Hill High School in 1999 as outside linebackers coach under head coach Robert Woods, later shifting to oversee defensive backs once McGuire became head coach. Martin returned to his native Oklahoma in 2004, eventually becoming head coach and athletic director at Jones High School, where he went 138-38 over 14 seasons and was twice named District 8 Athletic Director of the Year.