 Brian VanGorder, 2012 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Defensive Coordinator |
| Team | Gulf Shores HS |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | (1959-04-17)April 17, 1959 (age 66) Jackson, Michigan, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1977–1980 | Wayne State (MI) |
| Position | Linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1981 | West Bloomfield HS (MI) (assistant) |
| 1982–1983 | Boca Raton Academy (FL) |
| 1984–1987 | American Heritage School (FL) |
| 1988 | Boca Raton Community HS (FL) |
| 1989–1990 | Grand Valley State (LB) |
| 1991 | Grand Valley State (DC/LB) |
| 1992–1994 | Wayne State (MI) |
| 1995–1996 | UCF (LB/ST) |
| 1997 | UCF (AHC/DC) |
| 1998–1999 | Central Michigan (DC) |
| 2000 | Western Illinois (DC/LB) |
| 2001–2004 | Georgia (DC/LB) |
| 2005 | Jacksonville Jaguars (LB) |
| 2006 | Georgia Southern |
| 2007 | Atlanta Falcons (LB) |
| 2008–2011 | Atlanta Falcons (DC) |
| 2012 | Auburn (DC) |
| 2013 | New York Jets (LB) |
| 2014 | Notre Dame (DC/ILB) |
| 2015–2016 | Notre Dame (DC) |
| 2016 | Georgia (DA) |
| 2017 | Oklahoma State (DA) |
| 2018 | Louisville (DC) |
| 2019–2020 | Bowling Green (DC) |
| 2021 | Gulf Shores HS (DC) |
| 2022 | American Heritage School (FL) |
| 2023-present | Gulf Shores HS (DC) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| Broyles Award (2003) | |
Brian VanGorder (born April 17, 1959) is an Americanfootball coach and former player. He was thedefensive coordinator atBowling Green State University, a position he assumed in 2019.[1] Prior to that, he was defensive coordinator at theUniversity of Louisville.[2] He served as the head football coach atWayne State University from 1992 to 1994, andGeorgia Southern University in 2006, compiling a careercollege football record of 19–25. VanGorder was the defensive coordinator for theAtlanta Falcons of theNational Football League (NFL) from 2008 to 2011, and also worked in the same capacity for theUniversity of Georgia (2001–2004) andAuburn University (2012). VanGorder is married to the former Ruth Jones. His children are Molloy, Morgan, Mack, Montgomery, Malone, and Freddie.
VanGorder started his coaching career in 1981 as an assistant coach atWest Bloomfield High School. He served as the head coach at three high schools in the state ofFlorida, including Boca Raton Academy (now the Boca Raton campus ofPine Crest School). VanGorder posted a record of 52–16 and was named "Coach of the Year" on seven occasions. VanGorder's 1987American Heritage School team was ranked No. 1 in the state of Florida.[3] He joined the college ranks in 1989 atGrand Valley State University.
VanGorder had his first head coaching opportunity from 1992 to 1994 at his alma mater,Wayne State University.[4] During his final two seasons as head coach, Wayne State recorded its first winning record in more than a decade, going 6–5 in each season.[4] From there was a three-year stint at theUniversity of Central Florida, where he spent two years coachinglinebackers andspecial teams before being assigned to assistant head coach/defensive coordinator.From 1998 to 1999, VanGorder served as the defensive coordinator atCentral Michigan University,After Central Michigan, VanGorder was the defensive coordinator during the 2000 season atWestern Illinois University. The Leathernecks ended the year 9–2 and finished eighth nationally in passing efficiency defense and 12th in both passing defense and total defense while allowing just 17.6 points per game.
In 2001, he was hired as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at theUniversity of Georgia. During his first year as defensive coordinator in 2001, the Bulldogs allowed just 18.9 points per game, ended up fifth in rushing defense and ranked 17th in scoring defense.[5] The 2002 season saw VanGorder's defense not only lead the SEC in scoring defense, but finished fourth nationally.[6] The Bulldogs allowed less than 15 points per game during the season on their way to eventually winning the Sugar Bowl and finishing third in the final national poll. For his performance, VanGorder named as the seventh recipient of the Valvoline Southern Sports Tonight Assistant Coach of the Year.[7]
In 2003, VanGorder's defense ranked third nationally in scoring defense, fourth in total defense and sixth in passing defense.[8] In turn, VanGorder received theFrank Broyles "Assistant Coach of the Year" award (Broyles Award), which honors the nation's top assistant coach.[9] During his final season at Georgia in 2004, the 10–2 Bulldogs were ranked seventh in the final national poll as VanGorder's defense finished the season ranked eighth and ninth in scoring defense.[10]
During his Georgia tenure, six of VanGorder's players were selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, including defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, safetyThomas Davis and defensive endDavid Pollack in the first round, and safetySean Jones and linebackersBoss Bailey, as well asOdell Thurman in the second round. During his four years at Georgia the Bulldogs defense only gave up 30 points one time, against LSU in the2003 SEC Championship Game.
In 2005 VanGorder was hired as theJacksonville Jaguars linebackers coach, and he only served one year with the Jaguars before being hired as the head coach for theGeorgia Southern Eagles on December 9, 2005.[11] VanGorder resigned after finishing his only season at 3–8, the Eagles' then-worst record in the program's modern history. On December 19, 2007 VanGorder was named defensive coordinator and linebackers coach atSouth Carolina.[12] Five weeks later, on January 24, 2008,ESPN reported that VanGorder would leave to join newAtlanta Falcons head coachMike Smith's staff as their defensive coordinator.[13]
On January 9, 2012, VanGorder was hired byAuburn University coachGene Chizik as defensive coordinator.[14] He replacedTed Roof, who departed for the defensive coordinator position at theUniversity of Central Florida.[14]
On December 28, 2013, just hours after winning the2013 Pinstripe Bowl, theUniversity of Notre Dame announced VanGorder will take over as defensive coordinator, replacingBob Diaco, who took over as head football coach at theUniversity of Connecticut.[15]
He was terminated only four games into the 2016 season, on September 25.[16][17]
VanGorder announced his retirement from coaching college football in 2021 and became the defensive coordinator atGulf Shores High School in Alabama underMark Hudspeth.[18]
In December of 2021, VanGorder became the head coach forAmerican Heritage School's Palm Beach campus. He resigned in March of 2023 after a 2-7 season.[19]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne State Tartars(Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference)(1992–1994) | |||||||||
| 1992 | Wayne State | 4–7 | 3–7 | T–7th | |||||
| 1993 | Wayne State | 6–5 | 5–5 | T–6th | |||||
| 1994 | Wayne State | 6–5 | 6–4 | T–4th | |||||
| Wayne State: | 16–17 | 14–16 | |||||||
| Georgia Southern Eagles(Southern Conference)(2006) | |||||||||
| 2006 | Georgia Southern | 3–8 | 2–5 | T–5th | |||||
| Georgia Southern: | 3–8 | 2–5 | |||||||
| Total: | 19–25 | ||||||||