I'll start with a few posts about him on a message board from UGA fans. If anyone should know about him it would be the Dawgs:
"Presuming it is final, very good hire. You will be pleased with the defenses he fields, particularly the attitude. He is an excellent DC. Congrats."
"Good get. He'll light a fire under your D's ass."
"Definite upgrade for the Cocks."
"Van Gorder is a bad ass DC. Congratulations SC. I like our current guy, Martenzez, but our defense hasn't been the same since he left."
Now here's some of the hard facts about him while he was at UGA:
---VanGorder's tenure (2001-2004) as Georgia's defensive coordinator is considered one of the most successful since Erik Russell left in 1980.
---In his four seasons as defensive coordinator at Georgia, VanGorder helped the Bulldogs post a 42-10 record, capture one SEC title and two SEC East Division championships, win three consecutive bowl games and post three straight top 10 finishes in the national polls.
---VanGorder was honored as college football's top assistant coach in 2003 with the Frank Boyles "Assistant Coach of the Year" award.
---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.
---In 2003, VanGorder's Bulldogs defense ranked third nationally in scoring defense, fourth in total defense and sixth in passing defense.
---The 2002 season saw VanGorder's defense not only lead the SEC in scoring defense, but finish fourth nationally. The Bulldogs allowed only 31 points during the final seven games of the season on their way to eventually winning the Sugar Bowl and finishing third in the final national poll.
---During VanGorder's first year as Defensive Coordinator at Georgia in 2001, the Bulldogs allowed just 18.9 points per game, ended up fifth in rushing defense and ranked 17th in scoring defense.
---Van Gorder was named the seventh recipient of the Valvoline Southern Sports Tonight "Assistant Coach of the Year" in 2001.
---During his Georgia tenure, six of VanGorder's players were selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, including defensive tackle Jonathan Sullivan, safety Thomas Davis and defensive end David Pollack in the first round, and safety Sean Jones and linebackers Boss Bailey and Odell Thurman in the second round.
Sounds pretty convincing to me. They say that he is a very intense guy that is not afraid to get in a player's face and yell. We just weren't getting that with Nix. I think the emotion and intensity on the sidelines will motivate our defense. See the pic above.. lol. What do you think about him bro?
