The Vikings announced Wednesday that they hired Brent Salazar as the team's new strength and conditioning coach.

The 2016 season will mark Salazar's 11th in the NFL. Salazar spent the previous nine seasons (2007-15) with the Kansas City Chiefs as their assistant strength and conditioning coach and served as a strength and conditioning intern for the Broncos during the 2005 season. During his time in the NFL, players coached by Salazar had five winning seasons, made four playoff appearances and captured two division titles (2005 Broncos and 2010 Chiefs).

Here are five things to know about Salazar:

1.  Collegiate experience

In addition to Salazar's time in the NFL, he gained a variety of experience at the collegiate level. As a student, he served at the University of New Mexico as a strength and conditioning intern from 2002-2003. Salazar later attended graduate school at UNLV (2005) and held a strength and conditioning internship, in which he was directly responsible for overseeing the training program for the men's tennis squad and men's soccer team. He also assisted with the football program.

In 2006, Salazar was the assistant director of athletic performance at the University of the Pacific. During his time with the Tigers, Salazar was responsible for designing and implementing the training regimens for seven varsity sports.

2. Athletic background

Salazar attended Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado, and excelled in tennis.

Salazar played on New Mexico's men's tennis team from 1998-03. As a senior, Salazar helped New Mexico earn a share of the MWC Championship and earned All-Mountain West Conference honors.

3. Bridge between college and pro

In 2006, Salazar seized a valuable opportunity as a performance coach at Velocity Sports Performance. While there, Salazar worked with a variety of both collegiate and professional athletes and helped prepare collegiate football players for the NFL Combine.

4. Vikings connections

Salazar and Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer overlapped in Kansas City during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. During Salazar's first two seasons with the Chiefs, Priefer held the special teams coordinator position there. From 2010-2012, Vikings linebackers coach Adam Zimmer served as a Chiefs defensive assistant coach, working primarily with linebackers.

5. Recognized on a world level

In 2007 while Salazar was with the Chiefs, he worked with Jack Sock, a professional tennis player currently ranked 23rd on the ATP World Tour. Sock required surgery and rehab, which called for Salazar, and the two met and worked together in Kansas City. Salazar's work with Sock was recognized internationally, including a direct mention on-air during the French Open.