Northwestern promotes David Braun to full-time coach amid turnaround in wake of Pat Fitzgerald firing

Northwestern is raising period in-between coach David Braun to the full-time position shifting ahead, the varsity introduced Wednesday. Braun, who arrived as Wildcats defensive coordinator in the offseason, used to be named period in-between coach in July after longtime Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald used to be fired amid popular hazing allegations throughout the program. 

Braun, 38, has guided the Wildcats to a 5-5 mark thru 10 video games this season, entire with a 3-4 mark in Big Ten play. The workforce can clinch a bowl berth with a victory in Week 12 towards Purdue. It’s a drastic bounce for a Northwestern program that went 1-11 in Fitzgerald’s ultimate yr the helm. 

“I am truly honored for the opportunity to continue leading Northwestern’s football program,” Braun mentioned in a remark. “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 all the Northwestern neighborhood, your improve is the spine of our good fortune. Northwestern holds a unique position in the collegiate panorama, with its top-notch lecturers, Big Ten soccer custom and, most significantly, the improbable folks inside our University and athletic division. I need to categorical my gratitude to President [Michael] Schill, [Athletic director] Dr. [Derrick] Gragg and the hunt committee for entrusting me with the management of this program. And above all, a thanks to my spouse, Kristin, for supporting me each and every step alongside the way in which.”

Braun now steps into his first full-time head-coaching place after earlier stops as an assistant at North Dakota State, Northern Iowa and UC Davis amongst different colleges. His time as defensive coordinator at NDSU underneath coach Matt Entz integrated nationwide titles for the Bison in each 2019 and 2021. Braun performed as a defensive lineman at Winona State (2004-07), the place he started his teaching profession as a gradate assistant in 2008. 

Braun briefly exceeded expectancies in period in-between position

Considering the hand he used to be dealt, Braun has without a doubt made essentially the most of the location. He used to be thrust into the period in-between teaching position lower than two months earlier than the 2023 common season kicked off when Fitzgerald, who were on the helm since 2006, used to be suspended and due to this fact fired as soon as allegations of rampant hazing got here to mild. Another bumpy go-around after Northwestern’s 1-11 end in 2022 would were comprehensible giving the cases in Evanston, Illinois, however Braun briefly challenged his gamers to press ahead.

“We asked Dave to support our student-athletes this season, and he has done an exceptional job,” Schill mentioned in a remark. “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 did not do a lot to encourage, however Braun and Wildcats spoke back with a 38-7 house win towards UTEP in Week 2. That started a pattern of alternating between losses and wins that has persisted thru Week 11, with Big Ten victories over Minnesota, Maryland and Wisconsin.

“Coach Braun has rallied the team under very adverse circumstances,” Gragg mentioned in a remark. “He has gained the respect of the student-athletes, the staff, parents, alumni and our fans.”

Northwestern now has an opportunity to string in combination wins for the primary time this season because it prepares to host Purdue. The Wildcats take a seat as 3-point underdogs to the Boilermakers, although they’re going to have house box operating to their benefit. Northwestern then concludes the common season at Illinois in Week 13. The Wildcats can be bowl-bound for the primary time since 2020, once they gained the Big Ten West Division, will have to they be triumphant in one of the ones two final contests.