Brian VanGorder

College coach infobox


Name = Brian VanGorder
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Title = Defensive Coordinator
College = Atlanta Falcons
Conference = NFC South
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DateOfBirth = birth date and age|1959|4|17
Birthplace = flagicon|Michigan Jackson, Michigan
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Awards = 2003 Broyles Award
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Player = Y
Years = 1979-80
Team = Wayne State
Position = LB
Coach = Y
CoachYears = 1989-1991
1992-1994
1994-1996
1996-1997
1998-1999
2000
2001-2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2008-"present"
CoachTeams = Grand Valley State
Wayne State
Central Florida (LBs/ST)
Central Florida (DC)
Central Michigan (DC)
Western Illinois(DC)
Georgia (DC)
Jacksonville Jaguars (LBs)
Georgia Southern
Atlanta Falcons (LBs)
South Carolina (DC)
Atlanta Falcons (DC)
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Brian VanGorder (born April 17, 1959 in Jackson, Michigan) is the current Defensive Coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons. He previously was the head coach of Wayne State University, Georgia Southern University and has been as assistant coach under many other universities, most notably the University of Georgia.

Early coaching career

VanGorder started his coaching career in 1981 as an assistant coach at West Bloomfield High School. He served as the head coach at three high schools in the state of Florida, posting a record of 52-16 and was named "Coach of the Year" on seven different occasions. VanGorder's 1987 American Heritage School team was ranked No. 1 in the state of Florida [cite web |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Coaches/Brian_VanGorder.aspx |title=Atlanta Falcons bio page |accessdate=2008-05-22 |format= |work=atlantafalcons.com ] . He joined the college ranks in 1989 at Grand Valley State University.

VanGorder had his first head coaching opportunity from 1992-94 at his alma mater, Wayne State University. 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.He became head football coach at his alma mater, Wayne State University in 1992. After leaving Wayne State University in 1994, he coached at University of Central Florida and Central Michigan. From 1998-99, VanGorder served as the Defensive Coordinator at Central Michigan University, following a three-year stint at the University of Central Florida, where he spent two years coaching linebackers and special teams before being assigned to assistant head coach/defensive coordinator.

After Central Michigan, VanGorder was the Defensive Coordinator during the 2000 season at Western Illinois University. The Leathernecks ended the year 9-2, finishing eighth nationally in passing efficiency defense and 12th in both passing defense and total defense while allowing just 17.6 points per game.

University of Georgia

In 2001 he was hired as Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. During his first year as Defensive Coordinator at Georgia in 2001, the Bulldogs allowed just 18.9 points per game, ended up fifth in rushing defense and ranked 17th in scoring defense. For his coaching efforts, he was named the seventh recipient of the Valvoline Southern Sports Tonight "Assistant Coach of the Year".

The 2002 season saw VanGorder's defense not only lead the SEC in scoring defense, but finish fourth nationally. The Bulldogs allowed only 31 points during the final seven games of the season on their way to eventually winning the Sugar Bowl and finishing third in the final national poll.

In 2003, VanGorder's defense ranked third nationally in scoring defense, fourth in total defense and sixth in passing defense. In turn, VanGorder received the Frank Boyles "Assistant Coach of the Year" award, which honors the nation's top assistant coach. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1707423 VanGorder wins Broyles Award] ]

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.

During his Georgia tenure, six of VanGorder's players were selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, including defensive tackle Jonathan Sullivan, safety Thomas Davis and defensive end David Pollack in the first round, and safety Sean Jones and line-backers Boss Bailey, as well as Odell Thurman in the second round.

Post Georgia coaching career

In 2005 VanGorder was hired as the Jacksonville Jaguars linebackers coach. He only served one year with the Jaguars before being hired as the head coach for the Georgia Southern Eagles on December 9, 2005. [ [http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/121205aaw.html VanGorder hired as Georgia Southern coach] ]

VanGorder's 3-8 record at Georgia Southern in 2006 followed a 8-4 record turned in by former Coach Mike Sewak. Despite a four year record of 35-14, Sewak was not retained as head coach after two successive years of failing to get past the first round of the 1-AA playoffs.

VanGorder saw five of his players from Georgia Southern earn All Southern Conference honors in his lone season as the Head Coach of the Eagles in 2006. However, with a team loaded with talent coming off an 8-3 record and a trip to the playoffs, he only managed a 3-8 record, ending with a 5 game losing streak to close out the season. He also made the decision to keep future Walter Payton award winner Jayson Foster on the sidelines for most of the season and limited his participation in the offense. This was the worst record in Georgia Southern's history since prior to World War II and the worst season in the modern era since the program's revival by Erk Russell. He quit after one year and joined the Atlanta Falcons as Linebackers Coach.

On December 19, 2007, Steve Spurrier's official website, www.spurrierhbc.com, reported that Vangorder was joining Spurrier's staff to become the new Defensive Coordinator for the University of South Carolina Fighting Gamecocks.

On January 24, 2008, VanGorder backed out of his commitment to South Carolina, and ESPN reported that Vangorder was joining new Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith's staff as their defensive coordinator. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3212806 VanGorder hired as Falcons defensive coordinator] ]

Personal

He and his wife, Pollie, have five children: Molloy, Morgan, Mack, Montgomery and Malone.

References