[4] 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.

[6] 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.

During his four years at Georgia the Bulldogs defense only gave up 30 points one time, against LSU in the 2003 SEC Championship Game.

[11] VanGorder resigned after finishing his only season at 3–8, the Eagles' then-worst record in the program's modern history.

[12] 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.

[13] On January 9, 2012, VanGorder was hired by Auburn University coach Gene Chizik as defensive coordinator.

[16][17] VanGorder announced his retirement from coaching college football in 2021 and became the defensive coordinator at Gulf Shores High School in Alabama under Mark Hudspeth.