South Carolina athletic spokesman Steve Fink said a news conference was planned for later Wednesday to introduce the former Georgia defensive coordinator. VanGorder will replace Tyrone Nix, who became the defensive coordinator at Mississippi earlier this month.
VanGorder also will coach Gamecock linebackers. He's expected to finish the NFL season with the Falcons before heading to South Carolina, where coach Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks lost their final five games the longest losing streak of Spurrier's college career.
VanGorder came to the Falcons this season with head coach Bobby Petrino, who quit last week, 13 games into his first season to take over at Arkansas.
``I'm very excited to join the Gamecock staff and work with coach Spurrier,'' VanGorder said in a statement. ``I look forward to this opportunity to learn and be a big part of helping South Carolina get better.''
With the hiring this week of VanGorder and Maryland assistant Ray Rychleski as special teams coordinator, Spurrier was one assistant over the NCAA limit of nine. Athletic spokesman Steve Fink said second-year coach Fred Chatham, who was in charge of tight ends and co-special teams coordinator, would not be retained.
Details of VanGorder's contract were not immediately disclosed. However, Spurrier has said the next defensive coordinator would earn more than Nix's salary of $195,000.
VanGorder, 48, has had experience in the Southeastern Conference. He spent the 2001-04 seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs, teams featuring stars such as linebacker David Pollack. VanGorder was the Bulldogs' coordinator in 2002 when Pollack miraculously sacked South Carolina quarterback Corey Jenkins in the end zone and held onto the football for a Georgia touchdown and a 13-7 victory.
Georgia's defense was ranked among the top 10 nationally in several categories while VanGorder coached there.
``I'm really pleased to hire a proven defensive coordinator that has an outstanding record working in the SEC,'' Spurrier said in a statement.
South Carolina's defense was a big reason why the Gamecocks started 6-1 and rose to No. 6 in the country. The group was also key to South Carolina's late-season slide.
The Gamecocks gave up 541 yards rushing, including an SEC record-tying 321 to Razorbacks star Darren McFadden, in a 48-36 defeat on Nov. 3. A week later, South Carolina watched Florida's Tim Tebow pad his Heisman Trophy credentials, getting a hand in all seven of the Gators' touchdowns in a 51-31 defeat.
After the Florida loss, Spurrier took the unusual step for him, at least of working with his defense.
``Whatever we're doing the last couple of weeks hasn't worked very well,'' Spurrier said at the time. ``I'm responsible for the defense. I am the head coach. My style of coaching has really always been run the offense, hire somebody and let him do the defense. You can't run both sides of the ball. But I'm going to try to take more of an active role in watching defensive practice.''
South Carolina ranked No. 1 in SEC pass defense (168.8 yards allowed per game), but were last against the run and the only league team to allow more than 200 yards rushing a game (209.3).
The Gamecocks spent most of the season without standout linebacker Jasper Brinkley, who hurt his knee in September against LSU, and lineman Nathan Pepper, who had injured his knee a week earlier against South Carolina State. One of the Gamecocks' best defensive backs, Captain Munnerlyn, missed the season finale against Clemson with a foot injury.
Spurrier has refused to use the injuries as excuses. VanGorder doesn't think he'll have to.
``I believe there is tremendous potential at South Carolina,'' he said. ``I'm obviously familiar with the SEC, which is the best college league in America and where you compete against the best each week. I'm looking forward to the challenge.''
VanGorder's first task could be making sure Brinkley, a senior, remains true to his word and returns for one more season. Underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to declare for the NFL draft.
Brian VanGorder
http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/12/205037