VanGorder Excited for the Challenge of Leading the Louisville Defense
January 31, 2018 | Football
Brian VanGorder brings 18 years of coordinating defenses at the collegiate and NFL levels.
When University of Louisville head football Bobby Petrino ventured out to find a new defensive coordinator, he took his time to make sure he found the right fit.
He thinks he may have found it in Brian VanGorder, who was officially introduced to the media on Wednesday afternoon.
"I've known Brian for a long time," Petrino said. "I hired him when I was in Atlanta with the Falcons, which I was really excited about. He has strong beliefs in what he wants to do schematically, strong beliefs on how you go through the process, and it matches up with my beliefs."
Bringing over 35 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience to the table, VanGorder has coordinated defenses for 18 seasons at the NFL and collegiate levels, most recently at Notre Dame from 2014-16.
"I didn't know if I was going to do this again," said VanGorder, "I really wanted to – coordinate, that is – but it's got to be the right culture for me. I think it's the right time for me. It had to be the right culture for me."
"Coach Petrino represents standards and expectations, and I thrive in that type of environment. For me looking at it from the outside in, to coordinate again I made to make sure the culture was right – and I'm excited about being here."
Petrino and VanGorder have a long history together, facing each other on opposite sidelines, and also working on the same staff in the NFL.
Petrino first coached against VanGorder in 2002, when he was the offensive coordinator at Auburn and VanGorder was the defensive coordinator at Georgia. The Bulldogs defeated the Tigers 24-21 on its way to a one-loss season.
In 2007, when Petrino became the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, he hired VanGorder as his linebackers coach. After Petrino went back to the college game, VanGorder made a name for himself as the Falcons' defensive coordinator.
In that role from 2008-11, he helped the franchise post four-straight winning seasons, including playoff appearances in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Helping the Falcons to a 10-6 regular-season record in 2011, VanGorder's defense ranked second in the NFL in red-zone defense, sixth in rushing defense (97.0 yards per game), and 12th in total defense (333.6 yards per game).
In 2010, the Falcons went 13-3 and ranked 10th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 105.9 yards per game – the fifth-best total in the NFC. VanGorder's unit ranked in the top five in the NFL in scoring defense (18.0, fifth), turnover differential (+14, third), and interceptions (22, fourth), marking highs for the defense during his tenure.
Petrino and VanGorder reunited last week during a five-hour meeting in San Antonio, and it was there where VanGorder's passion to coach defense came to the forefront.
"He immediately wanted to go to the board and talk about defenses and what he believes in," Petrino said. "He's a great defensive coach who always presented a number of challenges to offenses."
Since being hired over the weekend, VanGorder said he has spent the first days since he was hired looking at film of Louisville's 2017 defense to see how it matches up with his scheme and working with his new staff, which currently includes defensive line coach L.D. Scott, cornerbacks coach Lorenzo Ward and safeties coach Ryan Beard.
"I look forward to all the challenges," VanGorder said. "There are many challenges ahead, it's challenging now, but we are moving forward with it. I'm still trying to get to know and meet some of the players, but I couldn't be more excited to be here."
He thinks he may have found it in Brian VanGorder, who was officially introduced to the media on Wednesday afternoon.
"I've known Brian for a long time," Petrino said. "I hired him when I was in Atlanta with the Falcons, which I was really excited about. He has strong beliefs in what he wants to do schematically, strong beliefs on how you go through the process, and it matches up with my beliefs."
Bringing over 35 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience to the table, VanGorder has coordinated defenses for 18 seasons at the NFL and collegiate levels, most recently at Notre Dame from 2014-16.
"I didn't know if I was going to do this again," said VanGorder, "I really wanted to – coordinate, that is – but it's got to be the right culture for me. I think it's the right time for me. It had to be the right culture for me."
"Coach Petrino represents standards and expectations, and I thrive in that type of environment. For me looking at it from the outside in, to coordinate again I made to make sure the culture was right – and I'm excited about being here."
Petrino and VanGorder have a long history together, facing each other on opposite sidelines, and also working on the same staff in the NFL.
Petrino first coached against VanGorder in 2002, when he was the offensive coordinator at Auburn and VanGorder was the defensive coordinator at Georgia. The Bulldogs defeated the Tigers 24-21 on its way to a one-loss season.
In 2007, when Petrino became the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, he hired VanGorder as his linebackers coach. After Petrino went back to the college game, VanGorder made a name for himself as the Falcons' defensive coordinator.
In that role from 2008-11, he helped the franchise post four-straight winning seasons, including playoff appearances in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Helping the Falcons to a 10-6 regular-season record in 2011, VanGorder's defense ranked second in the NFL in red-zone defense, sixth in rushing defense (97.0 yards per game), and 12th in total defense (333.6 yards per game).
In 2010, the Falcons went 13-3 and ranked 10th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 105.9 yards per game – the fifth-best total in the NFC. VanGorder's unit ranked in the top five in the NFL in scoring defense (18.0, fifth), turnover differential (+14, third), and interceptions (22, fourth), marking highs for the defense during his tenure.
Petrino and VanGorder reunited last week during a five-hour meeting in San Antonio, and it was there where VanGorder's passion to coach defense came to the forefront.
"He immediately wanted to go to the board and talk about defenses and what he believes in," Petrino said. "He's a great defensive coach who always presented a number of challenges to offenses."
Since being hired over the weekend, VanGorder said he has spent the first days since he was hired looking at film of Louisville's 2017 defense to see how it matches up with his scheme and working with his new staff, which currently includes defensive line coach L.D. Scott, cornerbacks coach Lorenzo Ward and safeties coach Ryan Beard.
"I look forward to all the challenges," VanGorder said. "There are many challenges ahead, it's challenging now, but we are moving forward with it. I'm still trying to get to know and meet some of the players, but I couldn't be more excited to be here."
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