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Former well-known SEC DC Brian VanGorder retires from college football, will continue coaching
By Keith Farner
Published:
Long-time former SEC defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder has retired from college football coaching, and been hired as the new defensive coordinator at Gulf Shores High School in Alabama. He most recently was the defensive coordinator at Bowling Green State under former Auburn assistant Scot Loeffler.
At Georgia in 2003, VanGorder won the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the nation. His college career also includes defensive coordinator stops at UCF, Central Michigan, Western Illinois, Notre Dame and Louisville in addition to Auburn and Bowling Green.
He’s also had NFL stops in Jacksonville, Atlanta and with the New York Jets. He was defensive coordinator for the Falcons from 2008-2011 before being hired at Auburn. He served as head coach of three Florida high schools early in his career.
VanGorder, 61, is a Michigan native who played college football at Wayne State (Mich.)
VanGorder has worked for and alongside the likes of Mark Richt, Brian Kelly, Bobby Petrino, Loeffler, Mike Smith and Rex Ryan. Though primarily a defensive coordinator, VanGorder has also been a head coach at Georgia Southern (2006) and Wayne State (1992-94).
Congratulations coach on your retirement from college football! We will miss you and appreciate all you’ve done to build the foundation for BGSU Football. #AyZiggy #ToTheMoon pic.twitter.com/R7K8TLd52X
— BG Football (@BG_Football) March 13, 2021
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.