Northwestern is elevating interim coach David Braun to the full-time role moving forward, the school announced Wednesday. Braun, who arrived as Wildcats defensive coordinator in the offseason, was named interim coach in July after longtime Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired amid widespread hazing allegations within the program.
Braun, 38, has guided the Wildcats to a 5-5 mark through 10 games this season, complete with a 3-4 mark in Big Ten play. The team can clinch a bowl berth with a victory in Week 12 against Purdue. It's a drastic jump for a Northwestern program that went 1-11 in Fitzgerald's final year the helm.
"I am truly honored for the opportunity to continue leading Northwestern's football program," Braun said in a statement. "Over the past five months, having the chance to lead this group has been the opportunity of a lifetime. Moving forward, my mission is to build on this positive momentum, aiming to create one of the best experiences in college football for our student-athletes.
"To the entire Northwestern community, your support is the backbone of our success. Northwestern holds a special place in the collegiate landscape, with its top-notch academics, Big Ten football tradition and, most importantly, the incredible people within our University and athletic department. I want to express my gratitude to President [Michael] Schill, [Athletic director] Dr. [Derrick] Gragg and the search committee for entrusting me with the leadership of this program. And above all, a thank you to my wife, Kristin, for supporting me every step along the way."
Braun now steps into his first full-time head-coaching position after previous stops as an assistant at North Dakota State, Northern Iowa and UC Davis among other schools. His time as defensive coordinator at NDSU under coach Matt Entz included national titles for the Bison in both 2019 and 2021. Braun played as a defensive lineman at Winona State (2004-07), where he began his coaching career as a gradate assistant in 2008.
Braun quickly exceeded expectations in interim role
Considering the hand he was dealt, Braun has certainly made the most of the situation. He was thrust into the interim coaching role less than two months before the 2023 regular season kicked off when Fitzgerald, who had been at the helm since 2006, was suspended and subsequently fired once allegations of rampant hazing came to light. Another bumpy go-around after Northwestern's 1-11 finish in 2022 would have been understandable giving the circumstances in Evanston, Illinois, but Braun quickly challenged his players to press forward.
"We asked Dave to support our student-athletes this season, and he has done an exceptional job," Schill said in a statement. "Under his guidance, Northwestern's football team has exceeded expectations on the field and excelled in the classroom. The turnaround he has led, under very difficult circumstances, is nothing short of phenomenal."
A 24-7 loss at Rutgers in Week 1 didn't do much to inspire, but Braun and Wildcats responded with a 38-7 home win against UTEP in Week 2. That began a trend of alternating between losses and wins that has continued through Week 11, with Big Ten victories over Minnesota, Maryland and Wisconsin.
"Coach Braun has rallied the team under very adverse circumstances," Gragg said in a statement. "He has gained the respect of the student-athletes, the staff, parents, alumni and our fans."
Northwestern now has a chance to string together wins for the first time this season as it prepares to host Purdue. The Wildcats sit as 3-point underdogs to the Boilermakers, though they'll have home field working to their advantage. Northwestern then concludes the regular season at Illinois in Week 13. The Wildcats would be bowl-bound for the first time since 2020, when they won the Big Ten West Division, should they prevail in one of those two remaining contests.
