Football
VanGorder, Brian
vs
Liberty
Sep 13 (Sat)
5 p.m.
Brian VanGorder
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach (Linebackers)
- Email:
- falconrecruit@bgsu.edu
- Phone:
- 419-372-7083
Brian VanGorder was the Defensive Coordinator for Scot Loeffler’s initial staff at Bowling Green since the 2019 season. He has served as Defensive Coordinator at four Power 5 schools during his 39-year coaching career and has coached seven years in the NFL for two different franchises. He has been the head coach at both Georgia Southern (2006) and Wayne State (1992-94).
In his first year at Bowling Green, VanGorder began the development of a defense that allowed just one touchdown and 16 total points in BGSU’s three victories. Linebacker Kholbe Coleman was named third team All-MAC and the secondary started as many as three freshmen in the same game during the season. The Falcon defense allowed its lowest point total and total yards against non-confernce opponents since 2013.
Morrison developed Kholbe Coleman into a third team All-MAC performer at the linebacker position. He led the team with 103 tackles while linebacker Brandon Perce was second with 100 tackles. Coleman, Perce and Jerry Roberts combined for 18 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, while also recording three forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions. The Falcon defense allowed just one touchdown and 16 total points in BGSU’s three victories on the season.
VanGorder, a Jackson, Mich. native, has been the Defensive Coordinator at Louisville (2018), Notre Dame (2014-16), Auburn (2012) and Georgia (2001-04). His Georgia teams went 42-10 in four years, placing in the top-10 in the final national rankings three times. The Bulldogs won an SEC title and three bowl games during his tenure, while VanGorder was named the 2003 Broyles Award winner, given to the top assistant coach in the country. Six defensive players were selected within the first two rounds of the NFL Draft in his time at Georgia.
As defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons from 2007-11, he helped the franchise to three playoff appearances. VanGorder transformed Atlanta's defense into a unit that finished 11th in the NFL in scoring defense in 2008. By 2010, the defense had climbed to fifth in the NFL in scoring defense.
He helped Notre Dame to a pair of bowl games from 2014-16, including a win over LSU in the 2014 Music City Bowl. Prior to his time at Notre Dame, VanGorder served as linebackers coach with the New York Jets in 2013. He coached the linebackers for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005 before becoming the head coach at Georgia Southern. He has also had coaching stints at Western Illinois (2000), Central Michigan (1998-99), Central Florida (1995-97), and Grand Valley State (1989-91).
Prior to entering the collegiate coaching ranks, VanGorder was a highly successful high school head coach in Florida, earning Coach of the Year honors seven times. His 1987 American Heritage School team was ranked No. 1 in the state of Florida.
VanGorder is a 1992 graduate of Wayne State with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He was a four-year letterman for the Tartars (1977-80), collecting 335 career tackles, and was inducted into the Wayne State Hall of Fame in 2013. He is married to the former Ruth Jones. His children are Molloy, Morgan, Mack, Montgomery, Malone and Freddie.
BRIAN VANGORDER COACHING STOPS
2019-20: Bowling Green (Defensive Coordinator)
2018: Louisville (Defensive Coordinator)
2017: Oklahoma State (Defensive Analyst)
2016: Georgia (Defensive Analyst)
2014-16: Notre Dame (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
2013: New York Jets (Linebackers)
2012: Auburn (Defensive Coordinator)
2007-11: Atlanta Falcons (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2006: Georgia Southern (Head Coach)
2005: Jacksonville Jaguars (Linebackers)
2001-04: Georgia (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2000: Western Illinois (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
1998-99: Central Michigan (Defensive Coordinator)
1995-97: Central Florida (Linebackers/Special Teams/Defensive Coordinator)
1992-94: Wayne State (Head Coach)
1989-91: Grand Valley State (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
1988: Boca Raton Community High School (Head Coach)
1984-87: American Heritage School (Head Coach)
1982-83: Boca Raton Academy (Head Coach)
1981: West Bloomfield High School (Assistant Coach)
In his first year at Bowling Green, VanGorder began the development of a defense that allowed just one touchdown and 16 total points in BGSU’s three victories. Linebacker Kholbe Coleman was named third team All-MAC and the secondary started as many as three freshmen in the same game during the season. The Falcon defense allowed its lowest point total and total yards against non-confernce opponents since 2013.
Morrison developed Kholbe Coleman into a third team All-MAC performer at the linebacker position. He led the team with 103 tackles while linebacker Brandon Perce was second with 100 tackles. Coleman, Perce and Jerry Roberts combined for 18 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, while also recording three forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions. The Falcon defense allowed just one touchdown and 16 total points in BGSU’s three victories on the season.
VanGorder, a Jackson, Mich. native, has been the Defensive Coordinator at Louisville (2018), Notre Dame (2014-16), Auburn (2012) and Georgia (2001-04). His Georgia teams went 42-10 in four years, placing in the top-10 in the final national rankings three times. The Bulldogs won an SEC title and three bowl games during his tenure, while VanGorder was named the 2003 Broyles Award winner, given to the top assistant coach in the country. Six defensive players were selected within the first two rounds of the NFL Draft in his time at Georgia.
As defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons from 2007-11, he helped the franchise to three playoff appearances. VanGorder transformed Atlanta's defense into a unit that finished 11th in the NFL in scoring defense in 2008. By 2010, the defense had climbed to fifth in the NFL in scoring defense.
He helped Notre Dame to a pair of bowl games from 2014-16, including a win over LSU in the 2014 Music City Bowl. Prior to his time at Notre Dame, VanGorder served as linebackers coach with the New York Jets in 2013. He coached the linebackers for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005 before becoming the head coach at Georgia Southern. He has also had coaching stints at Western Illinois (2000), Central Michigan (1998-99), Central Florida (1995-97), and Grand Valley State (1989-91).
Prior to entering the collegiate coaching ranks, VanGorder was a highly successful high school head coach in Florida, earning Coach of the Year honors seven times. His 1987 American Heritage School team was ranked No. 1 in the state of Florida.
VanGorder is a 1992 graduate of Wayne State with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He was a four-year letterman for the Tartars (1977-80), collecting 335 career tackles, and was inducted into the Wayne State Hall of Fame in 2013. He is married to the former Ruth Jones. His children are Molloy, Morgan, Mack, Montgomery, Malone and Freddie.
BRIAN VANGORDER COACHING STOPS
2019-20: Bowling Green (Defensive Coordinator)
2018: Louisville (Defensive Coordinator)
2017: Oklahoma State (Defensive Analyst)
2016: Georgia (Defensive Analyst)
2014-16: Notre Dame (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
2013: New York Jets (Linebackers)
2012: Auburn (Defensive Coordinator)
2007-11: Atlanta Falcons (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2006: Georgia Southern (Head Coach)
2005: Jacksonville Jaguars (Linebackers)
2001-04: Georgia (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2000: Western Illinois (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
1998-99: Central Michigan (Defensive Coordinator)
1995-97: Central Florida (Linebackers/Special Teams/Defensive Coordinator)
1992-94: Wayne State (Head Coach)
1989-91: Grand Valley State (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
1988: Boca Raton Community High School (Head Coach)
1984-87: American Heritage School (Head Coach)
1982-83: Boca Raton Academy (Head Coach)
1981: West Bloomfield High School (Assistant Coach)
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