ChiefsPlanet - Football Trgovac resigns - 24 hrs later Herm is fired.

http://www.panthers.com/Team/CoachBio.aspx?id=2130

Mike Trgovac
Defensive Coordinator

While the players have changed since his arrival in 2002, the results have been most consistent under defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac. Four times in six years with the Panthers, Carolina has finished in the top 10 in yards allowed, and only once has the team been out of the top half of the League. Entering the 2008 season, only one starter, defensive end Julius Peppers, remains from the original group.

Between 2002 and 2006, the Panthers ranked fifth in the NFL in total yards allowed, trailing only Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Denver. They were also sixth in first downs allowed and rushing yards allowed per attempt, ninth in rushing yards allowed per game and 10th in third down efficiency during that period.

While consistent, some seasons have still managed to stand out. In 2006, Carolina finished in the top 10 in nine different defensive categories. That performance came on the heels of a 2005 season in which the Panthers finished third in the League in yards allowed, fifth in points allowed and first in takeaways with a team-record 42. Overall, Carolina ranked in the top 10 of 10 different defensive categories and advanced to the NFC Championship for the second time in three years with Trgovac as defensive coordinator. Saving their best effort for the postseason, the Panthers became the first road team in more than 25 years to post a shutout when they limited the New York Giants to 132 yards in a 23-0 victory.

That success followed an impressive 2004 season in which Carolina lost a Pro Bowl defensive tackle and started three defensive backs who combined for less than a year of NFL starting experience but still led the League with a team-record 26 interceptions and ranked second in the NFL with 38 take-aways. The manner in which it was reached reflects on Trgovac's ability to adapt. With only nine take-aways at midseason, Carolina recorded 29 in the final eight games and reduced its opponents' yards per rushing attempt by nearly one yard in the second half of the year to finish fourth in the NFC in yards allowed per rushing attempt.

Under Trgovac's tutelage in 2003, Carolina finished in the top 10 of 10 different defensive categories, including yards per game, yards per play, sacks per pass play, first downs per game, third down efficiency and, most important, points allowed. In the postseason, the Panthers forced four turnovers and limited the Philadelphia Eagles to a field goal in Carolina's 14-3 NFC Championship victory.

As the Panthers defensive line coach in 2002, Trgovac laid the groundwork for his elevation to defensive coordinator. The promotion was well-earned, considering the dramatic improvement of Carolina's front four as the Panthers defensive line ranked third in the NFL with 39 sacks and was the linchpin of a defense that led the League in sacks per pass play and rushing yards per attempt. Under Trgovac's guidance, Peppers became the first player in team history to be named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and tackle Kris Jenkins was selected first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press.

Prior to joining Carolina, Trgovac spent the previous two seasons as defensive line coach at Washington, where he helped guide a Redskins defense that ranked fourth in the NFL and first in the NFC in 2000. He joined the Redskins in 2000 after serving as the Green Bay Packers defensive line coach in 1999. Prior to that, he spent four seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line coach from 1995-98. In 1998, the Eagles finished third in the NFL in sack percentage and first overall against the pass. Trgovac's 1995 line recorded an NFL-best 42.5 sacks.

Before entering the NFL, Trgovac coached 11 years as a defensive line coach on the college level, beginning in 1984 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Michigan. Following two seasons with the Wolverines, he coached at Ball State from 1986-88, Navy in 1989, Colorado State from 1990-91 and Notre Dame from 1992-94, where he was an assistant to head coach Lou Holtz.

Playing and Personal
As a player under Bo Schembechler at Michigan from 1977-80, Trgovac started three years at middle guard and was second-team All-America as a senior. He earned All-Big Ten honors twice and played in three Rose Bowls. An all-state football player at Fitch HS in Austintown, OH, he was named defensive lineman of the year in 1976 and won the state heavyweight championship in wrestling.

A native of Youngstown, OH, Trgovac and his wife, Angela, have two children, a daughter, Jordan, and a son, Michael. His last name is pronounced TER-guh-vack.

History
Defensive lineman Michigan 1977-80. College coach: Michigan 1984-85, Ball State 1986-88, Navy 1989, Colorado State 1990-91, Notre Dame 1992-94. Pro coach: Philadelphia Eagles 1995-98, Green Bay Packers 1999, Washington Redskins 2000-01, joined Panthers in 2002.