Pat Fitzgerald is overhauling his coaching staff after a disastrous 2022 campaign. That includes a new defensive coordinator, replacing Jim O’Neil after two seasons at Northwestern.

Things have not been the same since longtime DC Mike Hankwitz retired after 2020, and Fitzgerald is looking for the right coach to turn around the Wildcat defense. According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Fitzgerald has found his man out of the FCS ranks.

Rittenberg reports on Monday that Northwestern is preparing to hire David Braun out of North Dakota State. Braun has been the DC for the Bison since 2019 while also coaching safeties for the team. He has previous stops at Northern Iowa, UC Davis and Winona State.

We will see if Braun is the right person to turn things around for the Wildcats.