BY NICK ST. DENIS
For weeks, New York Jets linebackers coach Brian VanGorder was rumored to be leaving Gang Green to serve as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator.
Monday, it was made official.
The Fighting Irish's sports department announced that VanGorder has in fact taken the reins of Notre Dame's defense. He spend just one season with the Jets.
"I think he’s done a tremendous job with our linebackers, and you can see their play on the field displays that," Jets cornerback Darrin Walls, an alum of Notre Dame, said recently, via NewYorkJets.com. "Notre Dame is about high-character guys with performance on and off the field, and I think that Coach VanGorder possesses those qualities to be a great defensive coordinator there.
"I think the kids would really enjoy him and his coaching style and he’d be able to help them out a lot."
VanGorder joined the Jets last offseason after serving in various defensive assistant roles for multiple collegiate and NFL teams over the last two decades.
Under VanGorder's tutelage, Calvin Pace tallied a career-high 10 sacks and David Harris recorded a career-most 149 tackles. Demario Davis made big strides, and Quinton Coples excelled at getting into the offensive backfield in his transition from defensive end to a more linebacker-based hybrid role.
Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily
