Gene Chizik put an end to a month-long search for a defensive coordinator Monday, tabbing the Atlanta Falcons' Brian VanGorder as the next head of the Tigers' defense.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family at this point in my career, both professionally and personally, to become the defensive coordinator at Auburn,” VanGorder said. “I’m looking forward to working at a school with the success and tradition of Auburn, and for a coach like Gene Chizik, who has led the program to a national championship. I’m very appreciative to the Atlanta Falcons and Coach Mike Smith for the experience of the last four years. It’s a great organization and will have continued success in the future.”

VanGorder, 52, has been the Falcons' defensive coordinator for the past four years -- after one year as their linebackers coach -- and has been defensive coordinator at the collegiate level at Grand Valley State (1989-91), UCF (1997, after serving as linebackers coach for two seasons), Central Michigan (1998-2000) and Georgia (2001-04), where he won the Frank Broyles Award for the nation's top assistant coach in 2003.

That year's Bulldogs defense finished third nationally in scoring defense and fourth in total defense.

He also served as head coach at his alma mater Wayne (Mich.) State (1992-94) Georgia Southern (2006).

Chizik replaced VanGorder as defensive coordinator at UCF in 1998 and went toe-to-toe with his defenses while he was defensive coordinator at Auburn from 2002-04.

VanGorder's Falcons defense ran a 4-3 style compatible with Chizik's Tampa 2 tendencies, one that finished 12th in the NFL in yards per game allowed (333.6), sixth in rush defense (97.0 ypg) and 18th in points per game allowed (21.9).

The Falcons' season ended Sunday with a 24-2 loss to the New York Giants in the first round of the playoffs, after a 10-6 regular season.

"From the beginning of this process, I had one person in mind, and that was Brian,” Chizik said. “He has achieved success at every level, both professionally and collegiately, which is a testament to his ability as a coach. He has been one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, has won a Broyles Award at the college level, and understands what it takes to succeed in the Southeastern Conference. We’re pleased to welcome Brian and his family to Auburn.”

VanGorder replaces Ted Roof -- who left for the same post at UCF on Dec. 7 -- and takes over an Auburn defense that has set program records in yards allowed in each of the past three years and broke a 32-year old program record for yards allowed per game (408.0) this year.

The Tigers finished the 2011 season ranked 80th in total defense, 78th in scoring defense (28.9 points a game) and 94th in rush defense (189.2 yards a game).

Like Roof, VanGorder also served as tandem defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan and Georgia.

VanGorder, a Jackson, Mich., native also served as linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005.