RECRUITING AREAS: Northern New Jersey, Central/Southwest Florida, Rhode Island
Brian Vaganek was elevated to the role of defensive coordinator for the Holy Cross football team in 2024 after spending the previous seven seasons as the Crusaders' linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator.
In his tenure on the Crusader staff, Vaganek has helped recruit and develop some of the strongest linebacker talent in all of FCS. Since 2017, Holy Cross linebackers have earned All-America honors on four occasions (Nick McBeath, 2017; Jacob Dobbs, 2021 and 2023; Liam Anderson, 2022). Vaganek has also had at least one linebacker earn All-Patriot League honors in each of the last seven seasons.
Vaganek has helped lead the Crusaders to four NCAA playoff berths and six consecutive Patriot League titles, with Holy Cross’ defenses routinely ranking among the top in the conference and nation. In 2021, Holy Cross boasted the nation's top defense, holding opponents to an FCS-best 254.5 total yards per game.
With three decades of collegiate coaching experience under his belt, Vaganek’s student-athletes have routinely earned athletic and academic honors, in addition to professional playing opportunities. Jacob Dobbs was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year twice (2021, 2023), a multi-time All-American (2021, 2023), the 2023 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year and a finalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, among other conference and national accolades. Liam Anderson made his NFL debut with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023, following a Holy Cross career in which he earned All-America, All-Patriot League and Academic All-League honors.
He helped lead Holy Cross to a historic 2022 campaign, as the Crusaders went 11-0 during the regular season for the third time in program history and first time since 1991. The 2022 Crusaders (12-1) recorded the most single-season wins in program history and advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 1983; their lone loss on the campaign was a hard-fought playoff contest to top-seeded South Dakota State, the eventual national champions. Holy Cross finished the year with a No. 6 ranking among all FCS teams as a result of numerous marquee wins, including a Hail Mary victory against FBS foe Buffalo and an overtime win over nationally ranked Fordham; the Crusaders also earned their first win at Harvard since 2000 and defeated Harvard and Yale in the same season for the first time in program history.
During the Spring 2021 season, delayed from the fall of 2020 due to COVID-19, Holy Cross defeated Bucknell in the first-ever Patriot League championship game; in 2019, Vaganek helped the Crusaders to their first Patriot League championship in 10 years, and just the third NCAA FCS berth in program history.
Vaganek came to Holy Cross from the University of New Haven, where he served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2014-2016. He helped lead the Chargers to a 19-8 record in Northeast-10 Conference play during that time, with the team finishing either second or third in the league standings every season. New Haven led the conference and ranked 10th in the nation in scoring defense in 2015 (17.6 points per game), while finishing in the top two in the league in rushing defense during each of his three seasons. The Chargers totaled 10 all-conference selections on the defensive side of the ball during Vaganek’s tenure, including linebacker Tyler Condit, who set all-time school records for tackles in a single season and a career, and set the Northeast-10 record for career tackles.
Vaganek previously spent three seasons at the University of Rhode Island from 2011-2013, including two years as the defensive coordinator. During his tenure with the Rams, he coached five all-conference selections and two players who earned All-New England honors.
Prior to arriving in Kingston, Vaganek spent four years at Christopher Newport University as the associate head coach. During his four-year tenure, the Captains posted a 26-15 mark, including trips to the NCAA playoffs in 2008 and 2010. His defense limited opponents to just 20.1 points per game and forced 24 fumbles in 2008, while leading the USA South Conference in scoring defense in 2009 (20.5 points per game).
Vaganek began his coaching career at Highland (Kan.) Community College as the defensive line coach in 1993. He later served six years on the staff at William & Mary (1995-2000), including one year as defensive coordinator after previously coaching the defensive line and linebackers. Vaganek then moved to Hofstra University from 2001-2003, where he coached the defensive line. He also spent one year as the linebackers coach at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College in 1994 and eventually returned for a two-year stint as head coach from 2004-2005.
Vaganek is a 1993 graduate of Temple University, where he played four years as an offensive lineman. He and his wife, Jeanette, have a son (Brian) and a daughter (Julia). His son played four seasons with the Holy Cross football team (2020-23), starting at defensive end for the Crusaders during his senior year.
VAGANEK'S COACHING CAREER
2024 - | Holy Cross (Defensive Coordinator)
2017-23 | Holy Cross (Linebackers / Defensive Run Game Coordinator)
2014-16 | New Haven (Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers)
2012-13 | Rhode Island (Defensive Coordinator)
2011 | Rhode Island (Defensive Line)
2007-10 | Christopher Newport (Associate Head Coach / Defense)
2004-05 | Fort Scott (Kan.) (Head Coach)
2001-03 | Hofstra (Defensive Line)
2000 | William & Mary (Defensive Coordinator)
1995-99 | William & Mary (Defensive Line / Linebackers)
1994 | Fort Scott (Kan.) (Linebackers)
1993 | Highland (Kan.) (Defensive Line)
