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. VanGorder posted a record of 52–16 and was named "Coach of the Year" on seven 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 there was a three-year stint at the University of Central Florida, where he spent two years coaching linebackers and special teams before being assigned to assistant head coach/defensive coordinator. From 1998 to 1999, VanGorder served as the defensive coordinator at Central Michigan University, 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. 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 TonightAssistant 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 Johnathan 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 gave up 30 points one time, against LSU in the 2003 SEC Championship Game. 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 finishing his only season at 3–8, the Eagles' then-worst record in the program's modern history. On December 19, 2007 VanGorder was named defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at South Carolina. Five weeks later, on January 24, 2008, ESPN reported that VanGorder would leave to 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. On December 28, 2013, just hours after winning the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl, the University of Notre Dame announced VanGorder will take over as defensive coordinator, replacing Bob Diaco, who took over as head football coach at the University of Connecticut. He was terminated only four games into the 2016 season, on September 25.
