Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder will take over as the new defensive coordinator at Louisville, according to a report from FootballScoop.com.
VanGorder, who last served as a defensive analyst for Oklahoma State in 2017, was expected to be Mike Gundy’s tenth assistant for the 2018 season. However, he has chosen to return to Petrino’s staff, where he was the linebackers coach in Petrino’s abridged season with the Atlanta Falcons.
VanGorder brings over 20 years of experience as a defensive coach, including multiple stints as a defensive coordinator. The Wayne State alum has been a defensive coordinator for Georgia (2001-04), Auburn (2012) and Notre Dame (2014-16), as well as the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars (2005) and Atlanta Falcons (2008-2011).
With the hire, VanGorder would be Louisville’s third defensive coordinator in as many seasons. Todd Grantham left Louisville to join Dan Mullen’s staff at Mississippi State in 2016, with Peter Sirmon taking over as the defensive coordinator for the Cardinals. After much scrutiny over his performance in 2017, Sirmon resigned as Louisville’s defensive coordinator, and has since found a spot at Cal as the linebackers coach.
VanGorder’s contract details are unknown at this time, and there has been no confirmation from U of L as of this posting. It’s unknown as to whether or not he’ll also fill the vacancy at linebackers coach, where Cort Dennison left for the same position at Oregon last weekend.
This story will be updated, as details roll in.
