Jeff Imamura returns to the Vikings in 2011 for his 6th season on the coaching staff. His primary duties include working directly with Defensive Coordinator Fred Pagac on day-to-day defensive operations and activities, assisting in coaching the LBs and generating comprehensive scouting reports on opponents.
The Vikings LBs were the most consistent unit for the defense in 2010. Chad Greenway led the team in tackles for the 3rd-straight season and ranked 1st in the NFC and 4th in the NFL in total tackles. Captain E.J. Henderson returned from a gruesome leg injury that ended his 2009 season to start all 16 games and earn a trip to the Pro Bowl. The defense finished in the NFL’s top 10 in total defense (8th) for the 3rd year in a row and ranked in the top 10 against the run (9th) and the pass (10th).
Jeff Imamura returns to the Vikings in 2011 for his 6th season on the coaching staff. His primary duties include working directly with Defensive Coordinator Fred Pagac on day-to-day defensive operations and activities, assisting in coaching the LBs and generating comprehensive scouting reports on opponents.
The Vikings LBs were the most consistent unit for the defense in 2010. Chad Greenway led the team in tackles for the 3rd-straight season and ranked 1st in the NFC and 4th in the NFL in total tackles. Captain E.J. Henderson returned from a gruesome leg injury that ended his 2009 season to start all 16 games and earn a trip to the Pro Bowl. The defense finished in the NFL’s top 10 in total defense (8th) for the 3rd year in a row and ranked in the top 10 against the run (9th) and the pass (10th).
In 2009, the Vikings LBs played at a high level and were a key part of the #6 ranking in total defense the club posted for the 2nd-straight year. The Vikings had not been in the NFL’s top 10 for total defense in consecutive seasons since 1993-94. The LB unit had to overcome Henderson’s season-ending injury, but were able to prepare rookie 5th-round draft pick Jasper Brinkley to start the final 4 regular season games and both playoff contests. Greenway led the team in tackles and joined Ben Leber in making plays against the run and pass. The duo combined for 4 INTs and 3.5 sacks during the regular season and playoffs.
The 2008 Vikings made dramatic strides from 2007 despite having to overcome the loss of key starters to injury, challenging the coaching staff to prepare backups to take on bigger roles. The Vikings defense ranked #6 in the NFL for total defense, the highest finish since 1994 for the team and a 14-position jump from the previous year. A key part of the 2008 Vikings defense taking a step forward was the emergence of Greenway as a total defender. In his 2nd year as a starter, Greenway led the team with 150 tackles and notched 5.5 sacks.
The 2007 Vikings LBs thrived in the NFL’s #1 rushing defense as Henderson led the team with 155 total tackles and 4.5 sacks, while Greenway and Leber finished directly behind Henderson in total tackles with 130 and 88, respectively. Overall, the Vikings linebackers finished with 373 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 3 INTs, 6 FFs and 7 FRs.
The 2006 Vikings finished #8 in total defense and #1 against the run for only the 3rd time in team history. The team had not cracked the top 10 in total defense since 1994 but the Vikings defenders became a calling card as the team set a franchise record and posted the 2nd-lowest rushing yards allowed by an NFL team since the 1970 merger at 985 yards, an average of 61.6 per game.
Before joining the Vikings, Imamura coached OLBs at Saginaw Valley (MI) State University in 2003. He helped build the Cardinals’ defense into a national leader as the unit ranked 7th in the country in scoring defense, 12th in turnover margin and 22nd in the country in passing defense. The Cardinals’ OLBs accounted for over 60 percent of the team’s sacks on the season. SVSU won the Great Lakes Conference regular season title with an 11-0 record, finished the regular season ranked #1 in the nation and advanced to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals for only the 2nd time in the school’s history.
Imamura spent the previous 3 seasons (2000-02) at Northern Arizona University as the defensive line coach. In 2002, the Lumberjacks ranked 15th in the nation in rushing defense and 2nd in the conference with 39.0 sacks. NAU advanced to the Division I-AA playoffs in 2001 for only the 2nd time in school history.
A 1997 graduate of Texas Christian University, Imamura got his start in the coaching profession at TCU as a defensive assistant from 1997-99, where he assisted the Horned Frogs’ DBs coach and defensive coordinator. TCU beat USC in the 1998 Sun Bowl to earn the school’s 1st bowl victory since the 1957 Cotton Bowl, and in 1999 earned a share of the WAC title and another bowl bid.
Imamura earned his degree in finance at TCU. He's single and lives in Eden Prairie.
