Brian VanGorder Brian VanGorder ( born April 17 , 1959 ) is an American football coach and former player . He served as the head football coach at Wayne State University from 1992 to 1994 , and Georgia Southern University in 2006 , compiling a career college football record of 19 – 25 . VanGorder was the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League ( NFL ) from 2008 to 2011 , and also worked in the same capacity for the University of Georgia ( 2001 – 2004 ) and Auburn University ( 2012 ) . Early coaching career . VanGorder started his coaching career in 1981 as an assistant coach at West Bloomfield High School . He served as the head coach at three high schools in the state of Florida , including Boca Raton Academy ( now the Boca Raton campus of Pine Crest School ) . VanGorder posted 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 . He joined the college ranks in 1989 at Grand Valley State University . VanGorder had his first head coaching opportunity from 1992 to 1994 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 . From 1998 to 1999 , 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 linebacker s and special teams before being assigned to assistant head coach / defensive coordinator . After Central Michigan , VanGorder was the defensive coordinator during the 2000 season at Western Illinois University . The Leathernecks ended the year 9 – 2 , and finished eighth nationally in passing efficiency defense and 12th in both passing defense and total defense while allowing just 17 . 6 points per game . University of Georgia . In 2001 he was hired as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the University of Georgia Bulldogs . During his first year as defensive coordinator in 2001 , the Bulldogs allowed just 18 . 9 points per game , ended up fifth in rushing defense and ranked 17th in scoring defense . The 2002 season saw VanGorder ' s defense not only lead the SEC in scoring defense , but finished fourth nationally . The Bulldogs allowed less than 15 points per game during the season on their way to eventually winning the Sugar Bowl and finishing third in the final national poll . For his performance , VanGorder named as the seventh recipient of the Valvoline Southern Sports Tonight Assistant Coach of the Year . 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 . 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 . 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 linebackers Boss Bailey , as well as Odell Thurman in the second round . During his four years at Georgia the Bulldogs defense only give up 30 points one time , against LSU in the 2003 SEC Championship Game . Post Georgia coaching career . In 2005 VanGorder was hired as the Jacksonville Jaguars linebackers coach , and he only served one year with the Jaguars before being hired as the head coach for the Georgia Southern Eagles on December 9 , 2005 . VanGorder resigned after the worst season in the school ' s history and left for the Atlanta Falcons where he was the linebackers coach . On January 24 , 2008 , ESPN reported that VanGorder would join new Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith ' s staff as their defensive coordinator . On January 9 , 2012 , VanGorder was hired by Auburn University coach Gene Chizik as defensive coordinator . He replaced Ted Roof who departed for the defensive coordinator position at the University of Central Florida ( and later at Penn State ) . Personal . He and his wife , Pollie , have ﬁve children : Molloy , Morgan , Mack , Montgomery and Malone .