Speculation swirled around Statesboro Tuesday morning after The Dallas Morning News, citing an anonymous source, reported the University of Texas is eying Georgia Southern coach Brian VanGorder for its vacant co-defensive coordinator position.
According to Georgia Southern media relations director Pat Osterman, VanGorder was busy recruiting Tuesday and did not comment. Eagle athletic director Sam Baker denied the rumor, saying no one has inquired about speaking with VanGorder, which would be the protocol.
“I’ve had no contact from any institution asking for permission to talk to Coach VanGorder in relation to any position anywhere in the country,” Baker said. “He and I have been talking about getting ready for 2007 and beyond. We are focused totally on improving Georgia Southern. I think it’s just one of those Internet rumors that often the media pick up on and give it credibility.”
The Longhorns are in the market for a defensive coordinator — a position VanGorder held from 2001 to ‘04 at the University of Georgia — after Gene Chizik left Texas for the head job at Iowa State last week. VanGorder, hired by the Eagles last December, posted a school-worst 3-8 mark in his first season, which wrapped up last month.
Tuesday’s edition of the Austin American-Statesman stated VanGorder was “supposedly spotted in Austin two days after Chizik resigned at UT,” but Baker also refutes that claim.
“He was here in town all last week,” Baker said. “Brian is very focused on doing what we need to do here to be a very successful football program.”
Texas coach Mack Brown reiterated Monday he wouldn’t make any moves toward filling the vacancy until after the Longhorns face Iowa in the Dec. 30 Alamo Bowl. Until then, co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina will run the Texas defense.
“We make it a policy not to comment publicly on job speculation concerning us or any of our assistant coaches,” Brown said in statement.
According to Georgia Southern media relations director Pat Osterman, VanGorder was busy recruiting Tuesday and did not comment. Eagle athletic director Sam Baker denied the rumor, saying no one has inquired about speaking with VanGorder, which would be the protocol.
“I’ve had no contact from any institution asking for permission to talk to Coach VanGorder in relation to any position anywhere in the country,” Baker said. “He and I have been talking about getting ready for 2007 and beyond. We are focused totally on improving Georgia Southern. I think it’s just one of those Internet rumors that often the media pick up on and give it credibility.”
The Longhorns are in the market for a defensive coordinator — a position VanGorder held from 2001 to ‘04 at the University of Georgia — after Gene Chizik left Texas for the head job at Iowa State last week. VanGorder, hired by the Eagles last December, posted a school-worst 3-8 mark in his first season, which wrapped up last month.
Tuesday’s edition of the Austin American-Statesman stated VanGorder was “supposedly spotted in Austin two days after Chizik resigned at UT,” but Baker also refutes that claim.
“He was here in town all last week,” Baker said. “Brian is very focused on doing what we need to do here to be a very successful football program.”
Texas coach Mack Brown reiterated Monday he wouldn’t make any moves toward filling the vacancy until after the Longhorns face Iowa in the Dec. 30 Alamo Bowl. Until then, co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina will run the Texas defense.
“We make it a policy not to comment publicly on job speculation concerning us or any of our assistant coaches,” Brown said in statement.
