Tag: David Braun

Sep 23, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach David Braun leads his team on the field before the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Northwestern to name David Braun permanent football coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Northwestern will name David Braun as its head football coach on a permanent basis, ESPN reported Wednesday.

Braun was thrust into the job as interim coach in July after Northwestern dismissed Pat Fitzgerald amid allegations of hazing.

Northwestern is 5-5 (3-4 Big Ten) and needs to defeat either Purdue at home on Saturday or Illinois on the road on Nov. 25 to become bowl eligible.

The Wildcats last played in a bowl game in 2020, winning the Citrus Bowl to cap a 7-2 campaign in the pandemic shortened season. In Fitzgerald’s final two seasons, Northwestern was a combined 4-20.

Hired as defensive coordinator in January, Braun never had been part of an FBS coaching staff when Fitzgerald plucked him from North Dakota State, where he was an assistant coach at the FCS powerhouse from 2019-22. The Bison won two FCS national championships (2019, 2021) and two Missouri Valley Football Conference crowns in his first three seasons, and they boasted the country’s No. 1 scoring defense both title years.

A graduate of Winona State and a former defensive lineman there, Braun also was an assistant coach at NAIA program Culver-Stockton (2010), Division II Winona State (2011-14) and FCS program UC Davis (2015-16). He spent two seasons at Northern Iowa before accepting the position at North Dakota State.

The last first-year Northwestern coach to win five games was Walter McCornack, whose team was 10-1-3 in 1903.

ESPN reported that the search committee for a new coach has been impressed by the Wildcats’ play as well as Braun’s dealing with players and his appearances at news conferences.

Fitzgerald has filed a multi-millon-dollar wrongful termination suit against the university and president Michael Schill. More than a dozen former players have sued the school, contending they were victims of mistreatment and hazing.

–Field Level Media

The Birmingham Stallions head coach Skip Holtz changes into a USFL champions t-shirt during as he and his team celebrate their USFL championship after beating the Philadelphia Stars at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton Sunday, July 3, 2022. Usfl Championship Game0562

Report: Northwestern tabs Skip Holtz as special assistant

Posted on | by Field Level Media

USFL head coach Skip Holtz has agreed to become the new special assistant to the head coach at Northwestern this season, ESPN reported Monday.

The post is temporary and won’t impact Holtz’s duties with the Birmingham Stallions, per the report. Holtz has led the Stallions to back-to-back USFL titles.

Holtz, the son of legendary coach Lou Holtz, also spent 17 years as a head coach himself, going 118-98 with eight bowl wins in the Division I ranks at East Carolina, South Florida and Louisiana Tech.

Northwestern is bringing in Holtz to help shepherd interim head coach David Braun through the upcoming season, Braun is being thrust into turmoil over the firing of longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald earlier this month.

Braun was hired as defensive coordinator in January and elevated when Northwestern fired Fitzgerald in response to hazing and assault allegations made by former players. The pattern of alleged incidents prompted lawsuits and the university launched a new follow-up investigation due to the seriousness and sensitivity of multiple claims.

Northwestern begins the season Sept. 3 at Rutgers.

–Field Level Media

Jul 26, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Northwestern Wildcats interim head coach David Braun speaks to the media during the Big 10 football media day at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

David Braun: No ‘dream-like scenario’ becoming Northwestern coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

David Braun is still coming to terms with the events and circumstances that made him Northwestern’s interim head coach.

“I never could have imagined, nor did I desire, to become a head coach under these types of circumstances. That said, I’m honored to lead this group moving forward,” Braun said at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Braun was hired as offensive coordinator in January and elevated when Northwestern fired Pat Fitzgerald in response to hazing and assault allegations made by former players. The pattern of alleged incidents prompted lawsuits and the university launched a new follow-up investigation due to the seriousness and sensitivity of multiple claims.

Braun said he met with every player one-on-one and plans to remain attentive and available for direct conversations with each player. He shared with the team the circumstances that made him a coach isn’t a “dream-like scenario” but encouraged what he considers a galvanized group to dig in and fight for each other.

He said the team is still facing “adversity” but sidestepped questions related to hazing within the program.

“When Coach Fitz offered our family the opportunity to come to Northwestern back in January, and I started work on January 16 of this year, my wife and I had to pinch ourselves,” Braun said. “An opportunity to coordinate in the Big Ten, to work for a man like Coach Fitz, to be close to my family in Wisconsin, to be a part of the Big Ten, and the opportunity to mentor young men that value what Northwestern stands for — a world-class education competing on the biggest stage in college football. This, obviously, has been a very difficult time for our team, our staff, our current and former players impacted, our alumni, the university and the broader Northwestern community.”

Players were dismissed from any media responsibilities on Wednesday. Typically, three players accompany each coach for Big Ten media interviews but linebacker Bryce Gallagher, defensive back Rod Heard II and wide receiver Bryce Kirtz, released a joint statement to announce they made the decision not to attend Big Ten Media Day after talking to Braun and their families.

Four lawsuits have been filed by former players, and Northwestern officials admitted some of the allegations are new or weren’t known at the time of the previous investigation that led to Fitzgerald being suspended, then fired.

“The hazing included forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature, in clear violation of Northwestern policies and values,” Northwestern president Michael Schill said in a July 10 statement.

Northwestern begins the season Sept. 3 at Rutgers. Braun said the Wildcats will be ready.

“I have found a team that has come together, that truly loves one another and has an incredible resolve to attack the 2023 season and write their own story about overcoming adversity. Let me be clear, this football team will be ready to go,” he said.

–Field Level Media

Dec 19, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; The Big 10 Conference logo is seen on the field during the first half between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Northwestern Wildcats at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

David Braun officially named interim head coach at Northwestern

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Northwestern made official the promotion of first-year defensive coordinator David Braun to interim head coach on Friday.

He replaces Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired Monday with $42 million remaining on his contract after university officials concluded an independent investigation that found hazing allegations within the program were “largely supported by evidence.”

Braun, who has no head coaching experience and is new to the FBS level, was promoted for the 2023 season.

“The opportunity to lead this team at this crucial moment in its history is not something I take lightly, and I’m grateful for the trust placed in me by (athletic director Derrick) Gragg and Northwestern leadership,” Braun said in a news release. “Our focus today and every day moving forward is on supporting these men, many of whom have only been on campus for several weeks, in their preparation for the 2023 football season and the 2023-24 academic year.”

Braun was hired in January after working as the defensive coordinator at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State from 2019-22. The Bison won two FCS national championships (2019, 2021) and two Missouri Valley Football Conference crowns in his first three seasons, and they boasted the country’s No. 1 scoring defense both title years.

A graduate of Winona State graduate and a former defensive lineman there, Braun also was an assistant coach at NAIA program Culver-Stockton (2010), Division II Winona State (2011-14) and FCS program UC Davis (2015-16). He spent two seasons at Northern Iowa before accepting the position at North Dakota State.

Braun will make his coaching debut Sept. 3 at Rutgers.

The Wildcats are coming off a 1-11 season in 2022, following a 3-9 campaign in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats athletic director Derrick Gragg on the sidelines during the second half against the Ohio Bobcats at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Northwestern tabs David Braun as interim coach for 2023

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Northwestern’s first-year defensive coordinator David Braun, who has no head coaching experience and is new to the FBS level, will serve as interim head coach for the 2023 season, ESPN reported Thursday night.

Braun has been filling in as a “liaison” since Monday, when Northwestern announced the firing of longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald amid allegations of hazing in the program.

Braun was hired in January after working as the defensive coordinator at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State from 2019-22. The Bison won two FCS national championships (2019, 2021) and two Missouri Valley Football Conference crowns in his first three seasons, and they boasted the country’s No. 1 scoring defense both title years.

Stabilizing the program is an immediate issue for Braun as players have nearly four more weeks to transfer without penalty. Players had said in a team meeting earlier this week with university president Michael Schill and athletic director Derrick Gragg that tabbing Braun as interim coach would help provide some clarity and continuity to the program’s future, ESPN reported.

Braun came to NDSU from Northern Iowa, where he was the defensive line coach and run game coordinator in 2017, and outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator in 2018.

The Winona State graduate and former defensive lineman also was an assistant coach at NAIA program Culver-Stockton (2010), Division II Winona State (2011-14) and FCS program UC Davis (2015-16).

Fitzgerald, head coach at Northwestern since 2006, was fired on Monday with $42 million remaining on his contract. That decision came three days after the original discipline for Fitzgerald was a two-week suspension without pay, all stemming from an independent investigation that found hazing allegations were “largely supported by evidence.”

A player came forward to the student newspaper, the Daily Northwestern, and revealed that the hazing allegedly included coerced sexual acts. Fitzgerald was also accused of presiding over a “culture of enabling racism.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats athletic director Derrick Gragg on the sidelines during the second half against the Ohio Bobcats at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern to keep assistant coaches for 2023

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After firing head coach Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern will retain the rest of its football coaching staff, the school told multiple media outlets Tuesday.

Northwestern did not name an interim head coach Monday when announcing Fitzgerald would not return. Defensive coordinator David Braun, however, is filling in as a “liaison” and could be elevated to interim coach, reports said.

Braun was hired in January after working as the defensive coordinator at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State from 2019-22.

Athletic director Derrick Gragg returned to campus Tuesday to address the football team in person. Gragg had been out of the country on vacation and held a Zoom call Monday night to reveal the Fitzgerald decision without taking questions from players.

University president Michael Schill did not attend that meeting, leading some players to tell ESPN and Rivals that they felt the administration’s handling of the matter was “cowardly” and disrespectful.

Fitzgerald, head coach at Northwestern since 2006, was fired on Monday with $42 million remaining on his contract. That decision came three days after the original discipline for Fitzgerald was a two-week suspension without pay, all stemming from an independent investigation that found hazing allegations were “largely supported by evidence.”

A player came forward to the student newspaper, the Daily Northwestern, and revealed that the hazing allegedly included coerced sexual acts. Fitzgerald was also accused of presiding over a “culture of enabling racism.”

–Field Level Media