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Brian VanGorder brings more than 25 years of coaching experience to the Falcons and will be in charge of the club's linebackers in 2007. VanGorder makes a return trip back to the NFL after serving as the Head Coach at Georgia Southern in 2006.
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 last year.
Prior to his post at Georgia Southern, VanGorder coached linebackers for the Jacksonville Jaguars for one season in 2005. Through his help, the Jaguars finished the year ranked sixth in total defense.
From 2001-04, VanGorder served as a very successful Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach at the University of Georgia. During those years, the Bulldogs posted a 42-10 record, won one Southeastern Conference title, two SEC East Division championships, captured three consecutive bowl games and posted three straight top 10 finishes in the national polls.
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.
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.
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.
During VanGorder's 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".
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.
Prior to Georgia, 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.
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.
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.
VanGorder started his coaching career in 1981 as an assistant coach at West Bloomfield (MI) 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.
VanGorder was born April 17, 1959 in Jackson, Michigan. He and his wife, Pollie, have five children: Molloy, Morgan, Mack, Montgomery and Malone. | 