After a month of rumors and speculation about the vacant defensive coordinator position, coach Gene Chizik found his guy, and he had him tagged from the very beginning.
Brian VanGorder, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, was introduced as Auburn's defensive coordinator last Wednesday.
"From the beginning of this process, I had one person in mind, and that was Brian," Chizik said.
VanGorder has experience at every level of coaching, from coach at Georgia Southern to defensive coordinator at Georgia and the Falcons.
"He has achieved success at every level, both professionally and collegiately, which is a testament to his ability as a coach," Chizik said.
VanGorder's main success was in the SEC, leading Georgia's defense from 2001-04. During that time, VanGorder's four defenses were all ranked in the top 20.
VanGorder was nominated for the Broyles Award, which is given to the top assistant in college football, in 2002. and he won it in 2003.
Former Georgia Bulldog David Pollack, who played for VanGorder in college, tweeted after Auburn's announcement, "VanGorder was the biggest football junkie I have ever been around. Studies hard. demands excellence and teaches you how to be a man."
Former defensive coordinator Ted Roof had basic philosophical differences in scheme with Chizik. VanGorder has run a Tampa 2 style that is very similiar to Chizik's Cover 2 defense.
At Georgia and with the Falcons, VanGorder used a speedy, athletic linebacker core much like the type of linebacker Chizik has recruited since his days as defensive coordinator at Auburn.
While Chizik still needs to hire an offensive coordinator to replace the departed Gus Malzahn, if VanGorder's hire is any indication, Chizik already has his man.
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