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Northwestern assistant to be named acting head coach, per report
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Northwestern is expected to turn to David Braun as its acting head coach following the dismissal of Pat Fitzgerald.
The news comes from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, via sources. Braun was a January addition to the Wildcats coaching staff.
Sources: Northwestern is expected to name defensive coordinator David Braun as the acting coach. Braun came to Northwestern in January from North Dakota State, where he was FCS coordinator of the Year in 2021.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 11, 2023
Prior to his arrival in Evanston, Braun was the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at North Dakota State from 2019-to-2022. Braun helped lead North Dakota State to FCS national championships in 2019 and 2021. In both of the championship seasons, the Bison finished as the top-ranked scoring defense in the FCS.
Braun was recognized as the FCS Coordinator of the Year for 2021. That season, the Bison limited opponents to an MVFC record 11.1 points per game, ranked third nationally in total defense (264.7 yards per game) and 3rd-down conversion defense (26.8%), fifth in red zone defense (68%) and sixth in rushing defense (87.6 yards per game).
Braun has been in coaching as an assistant since 2008, getting his start at Winona State as a grad assistant. His other stops include Culver-Stockton, UC Davis and Northern Iowa.
A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.