Trgovac was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1958. He became an all-state defensive lineman at Fitch High School in Austintown, Ohio. He was named defensive lineman of the year in 1976 and also won the state wrestling title. He is of Serbian ancestry and his surname means "Trader" in the Serbian language.
Playing career
Trgovac enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1977 and played college football at the middle guard position for Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1977 to 1980. As a sophomore in 1978, he started six games for the Wolverines and received the John F. Maulbetsch Award. As a junior, Trgovac started 11 games at middle guard for the 1979 Michigan team, won the Frederick Matthei Award, and was selected as a first-team player on the 1979 All-Big Ten Conference football team. As a senior, Trgovac again started 11 of 12 games at middle guard for the 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a 10-2 record, finished #4 in the AP and UPI polls, and outscored opponents 322 to 129. Trgovac was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player for the second consecutive year.
Coaching career
College
Following his graduation from Michigan, Trgovac became a graduate assistant under Schembechler in the 1984 and 1985 seasons with fellow GAs Cam Cameron and Bill Sheridan. From 1986 to 1988 he coached the defensive line at Ball State. Following a one-year stint with Navy, he joined former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce's staff at Colorado State as defensive line coach. He ended his college coaching career with three seasons on Lou Holtz's staff at Notre Dame.
Philadelphia Eagles
Trgovac served as the defensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1995–1998. 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.
Trgovac was hired as a defensive line coach by the Green Bay Packers. He only spent one season with them.
Washington Redskins
In 2000, Trgovac was hired by the Washington Redskins. He served as their defensive line coach for two seasons. He helped guide a Redskins defense that ranked fourth in the NFL and first in the NFC in 2000.
Carolina Panthers
Following the 2001 season, Trgovac joined the Carolina Panthers. He was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2003 season. Since Trgovac joined Carolina in 2002, the Panthers rank fifth in total yards allowed, trailing only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos. 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. After turning down a contract offer from the Panthers, Trgovac informed Head CoachJohn Fox and General ManagerMarty Hurney that he was leaving the team.
Return to Green Bay
In 2009, Trgovac returned to the Green Bay Packers as their defensive line coach. He was let go along with several other Green Bay defensive assistants following the 2017 season.
On January 18, 2018, Trgovac was hired by the Oakland Raiders as their defensive line coach. In January 2019, it was announced that he had been replaced by Brentson Buckner. Subsequently, Trgovac became the Raiders' senior defensive assistant.
