Brian VanGorder: Hot name in the assistant coaching ranks

By

Posted 5:44PM on Wednesday, October 22, 2003

ATHENS - When those inevitable coaching searches get underway and a few schools already are looking keep this name in mind. Brian VanGorder. That's a capital G, with no space between the Van and the Gorder. Georgia's defensive coordinator was barely known three seasons ago. Now, he's one of the hottest assistants in the country, a guy who's sure to be on some head coaching short lists at the end of the year. ``I imagine,'' Georgia head coach Mark Richt said, ``there will be some teams that come after him.'' VanGorder shrugs off any talk of becoming a head coach. Considering his rather humble roots, he's just happy to be on the staff at a school such as No. 4 Georgia (6-1), the defending Southeastern Conference champion and in the running for a national title. ``I used to think about (being a head coach) a lot more than I do now,'' he said. ``My dream is not necessarily to become the head coach at a major Division I school. That's not a big deal to me. I just wanted to coach at a school like Georgia. The bottom line is this: I'm here, and this is where I want to be.'' VanGorder's hiring in 2001 was met with puzzled looks and a bit of grumbling in the Bulldog Nation. Hardly anyone was familiar with the new coordinator, whose resume included stints at Western Illinois, Central Michigan, Central Florida, Wayne State and Grand Valley State. No one is complaining now. Last season, VanGorder was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which goes to the assistant coach of the year. This year, the Bulldogs have allowed the fewest yards in the country (249.8 per game) and rank third in points allowed (11.3) a figure that would be even more impressive if not for an interception returned for a touchdown, another score off a botched punt and a couple of garbage TDs against backups. Certainly, VanGorder's players are firm believers in his defensive philosophy, which relies on simplicity and being able to make adjustments. ``He works so hard. He knows so much. He's just so smart,'' cornerback Tim Jennings said. ``He prepares us so well. He studies the opponent so much, it's like he knows what they're going to do on every play.'' Amazingly, Richt's admiration can be traced to a game that VanGorder's team lost by 32 points. In 1995, Richt was the offensive coordinator at Florida State, which was averaging 64 points a game when it faced Central Florida. VanGorder, who was the Knights' linebackers coach, came up with a few wrinkles that actually slowed Florida State a bit, though the Seminoles still won 46-14. ``He had a great plan,'' Richt remembered. ``That made an impression on me.'' When Richt landed his first head coaching job at Georgia, he immediately thought of VanGorder to be the defensive coordinator. It was an especially important hire, considering Richt would run the offense and couldn't get too involved with the other side of the line. The Bulldogs had long been one of the country's most talented defensive teams, though the numbers didn't always back it up. The season before Richt arrived, Georgia lost four games despite having a defense that sent 10 players to the NFL. Richt felt a lack of continuity was the problem. VanGorder was the Bulldogs' fourth coordinator in four years a situation that was especially striking to the new coach, who had just left a school where Mickey Andrews has been the defensive coordinator for just short of forever. ``I felt that was why a school such as Florida State had success, and a school such as Georgia didn't have success,'' Richt said. ``When you're looking to hire a coordinator, you're looking for stability.'' He envisioned a partnership with VanGorder that would mirror Bobby Bowden's collaboration with Andrews at Florida State. The head coach focuses on offense, leaving the defense in someone else's very capable hands. ``I knew coach VanGorder was a good football man. I knew he was a good family man. I knew he was a man of integrity,'' Richt said. ``I felt like he would be loyal to me and loyal to Georgia.'' VanGorder was ecstatic to get the opportunity. Growing up, this was a guy who watched his father go off to work at a Michigan car plant every day, a lunch box in his hands. This was a guy who began working a paper route at age 9, who started caddying at the local country club when he was 11. This was a guy who started coaching at the high school level, who endured two decades of seemingly dead-in jobs before his big break finally came. ``I knew he was excited about the opportunity,'' Richt said. ``You get some guy who's just been let go by the NFL, he'll say, 'Yeah, I'll do it.' But as soon as the NFL calls again, he's gone. I wanted to establish as much continuity as I could.'' VanGorder has been so effective in his job that he's actually changed Richt's wide-open offensive philosophy. These days, the Bulldogs are more concerned with avoiding major mistakes, knowing the defense isn't going to give up much. Georgia doesn't rely on a lot of blitzes or other gimmicks. VanGorder knows he has some of the nation's best defensive players Thomas Davis, David Pollack, Sean Jones. If they're in the right position, they'll usually make the play. Around the country, three schools Duke, Arizona and Army already have fired their coaches, and Mississippi State's Jackie Sherrill is retiring after the season. Would VanGorder be interested in any of those jobs? A pained look crosses his face. ``I don't listen to any of that,'' he said. ``I love Georgia. I want to be at Georgia. I hope I'm here a long time. I'm concerned with doing a good job here. That other stuff isn't on my mind at all.''