Tag: interim coach

Dec 8, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Chicago Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown stands on the field after calling a timeout against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Bears to interview interim coach Thomas Brown for job

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Chicago Bears intend to interview interim head coach Thomas Brown for the permanent job.

Brown took over for Matt Eberflus, who was fired Nov. 29 after Chicago’s 4-8 start. Entering the regular-season finale on Sunday, the Bears were 4-12.

Still, despite the 0-4 mark, general manager Ryan Poles told ESPN 1000 in Chicago on Sunday that Brown had earned consideration.

“I’ve been so impressed with Thomas and his leadership,” Poles said. “I know the results haven’t come. That was a very difficult situation he’s been put in. I grew up in this business where you earn more, and that’s exactly how we got here with Thomas. I feel like he’s done a really good job.”

Brown began the season as the Bears’ passing game coordinator, then Eberflus named him offensive coordinator when Shane Waldron was fired after Week 10.

“You could see the leadership traits, and then he got moved to the offense coordinator position and did well. We saw improvements on offense and then at the head coaching level, got the opportunity to do that and lead the entire team,” Poles said. “And just sitting in team meetings, meeting with him after games — he’s a truth teller. He’s someone that does challenge our players to get better, creates accountability. So there’s a lot of really positive traits that Thomas has, and I’ve been proud of how he’s stepped up and led this team down the stretch here. And again, it’s not the results that we wanted in terms of wins and losses, but the traits of a leader. He absolutely has those.”

Brown, 38, has four-plus years of NFL coaching experience and nine in the college ranks.

The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints also fired their coaches during the season and have openings. More are expected hours after the conclusion of the regular season on what has become known as Black Monday.

–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