Ben Albert, 37, a former standout player at the University of Massachusetts who has served as an assistant coach for 14 seasons, including 12 within the Atlantic 10 Conference and Colonial Athletic Association, begins his fourth season on the University of Delaware football coaching staff in 2009 as linebackers coach.
In January, 2007, Albert was promoted to the title of Associate Head Coach.
Albert has been a part of four conference title teams during his career as a player and coach. Thanks to a much-improved defense, he led the Blue Hens to another outstanding season in 2007 when Delaware went 11-4 and advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game.
A native of Paterson, N.J. where he was a standout at Passaic Tech High School, Albert enjoyed an outstanding playing career as a nose guard and defensive tackle at the University of Massachusetts in 1990-94. He was a freshman in 1990 when the Minutemen captured the Yankee Conference title and advanced to the NCAA I-AA tournament under head coach Jim Reid. He also played three seasons for coach Mike Hodges, leading the squad to a 9-2 mark in 1993.
The Ben Albert File
Born: March 19, 1972 College: Bachelor of Arts, Massachusetts, 1995; Master of Education, Massachusetts, 1997 College Coaching Career: 1995-96: Defensive Line, University of Massachusetts 1997-00: Defensive Line/Linebackers, University of Richmond 2001: Defensive Line, Rutgers University 2002-03: Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator, Massachusetts 2004: Defensive Line/Special Teams Coordinator, Richmond 2006-Present: Associate Head Coach; Linebackers, University of Delaware Family: Wife, Lisa; Daughter, Maya Recruiting Areas: New York City, Long Island, New Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Sussex, Union, Warren counties)
He earned first team All-Yankee Conference and All-East honors as a senior in 1994 when he served as team co-captain and led a defense that ranked 13th nationally in total defense. For his career, Albert registered 189 tackles (109 solo) and 14 sacks.
He earned his degree in political science and sociology from Massachusetts in 1995 and earned his master’s in education from the school in 1997.
Albert began his coaching career at UMass in 1995 and worked two years, serving as defensive line coach and academic resource coordinator under Hodges. He moved on to the University of Richmond where he served as linebackers and defensive line coach in 1997-00 under Reid. The Spiders won Atlantic 10 titles and advanced to the NCAA I-AA tournament in 1998 and 2000 and annually ranked among the top defensive units in the league.
He moved to the NCAA I-A level in 2001 where he was the defensive line coach at Rutgers University under head coach Greg Schiano.
Albert returned to his alma mater in 2002-03 and worked under head coach Mark Whipple as inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for two seasons. He led the Minutemen to a share of the Atlantic 10 title, along with Delaware, and an NCAA playoff berth.
He then returned to Richmond and coached the 2004 season as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator for first-year head coach Dave Clawson.
In addition to his college coaching career, Albert also worked as a minority fellowship intern with the National Football League’s Oakland Raiders in the summer of 1999.
Albert and his wife, Lisa, reside in the Newark area with their daughter, Maya.
Associate Head Coach Ben Albert