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David Braun Coaching History & Bio
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David Braun made an immediate splash as Northwestern’s coach in 2023. Despite taking over the job on an interim basis under difficult circumstances, he earned the Big Ten’s Coach of the Year award by leading the Wildcats to 8 wins in 2023 in his first season as a head coach at any level. Year 2 didn’t go nearly as well, but Braun is back to try to rebound in 2025.
Here is everything you need to know about the Wildcats’ head football coach.
David Braun Head Coaching Record
- Northwestern (2 seasons): 12-13
| Season | School | Record | Conference Standing | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Northwestern | 8-5 (5-4 Big Ten) | T-2 West Division | W – Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2024 | Northwestern | 4-8 (2-7) | 16th | |
| Total | 12-13 |
David Braun Coaching Experience
- 2008-2009: Winona State — Graduate assistant
- 2010: Culver-Stockton — Defensive coordinator/Linebackers
- 2011-2014: Winona State — co-Defensive coordinator/Linebackers
- 2015-2016: UC Davis — Defensive line
- 2017: Northern Iowa — Running game coordinator/Defensive line
- 2018: Northern Iowa — Outside linebackers/Special Teams
- 2019-2022: North Dakota State — Defensive coordinator/Safeties
- 2023-present: Northwestern — Head coach
David Braun Bio
There’s something to be said for being in the right place at the right time.
Not only had David Braun never been a head coach, he had never even been an assistant at an FBS school before coming to Northwestern as Pat Fitzgerald’s defensive coordinator in January 2023. Seven months later, before coaching his first game with the Wildcats, the former Winona State linebacker found himself running the program.
He was named as Northwestern’s interim coach after Fitzgerald was fired amid allegations of widespread hazing within the team.
Braun immediately became a stabilizing figure for a program in turmoil. After beating Wisconsin on Nov. 11, 2023, to become the first Wildcats coach to win 5 games in his first season since Walter McCornack in 1903, the interim tag was removed from his title and he was hired as the team’s permanent coach. Northwestern went on to win the next 3 games, including a Las Vegas Bowl victory against Utah, to finish 8-5 and earn Big Ten Coach of the Year honors for Braun.
Northwestern took a step back in 2024, but Braun is hoping for a rebound in 2025.
Prior to his arrival at Northwestern, Braun worked as an assistant coach at a series of small schools, including his alma mater – a Division II program located in Minnesota.