Northwestern promotes David Braun to full-time coach amid turnaround in wake of Pat Fitzgerald firing

Northwestern is elevating interim coach David Braun to the full-time role moving forward, the school announced Wednesday. Braun, who arrived as Wildcats defensive coordinator in the offseason, was named interim coach in July after longtime Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired amid widespread hazing allegations within the program. 

Braun, 38, has guided the Wildcats to a 5-5 mark through 10 games this season, complete with a 3-4 mark in Big Ten play. The team can clinch a bowl berth with a victory in Week 12 against Purdue. It’s a drastic jump for a Northwestern program that went 1-11 in Fitzgerald’s final year the helm. 

“I am truly honored for the opportunity to continue leading Northwestern’s football program,” Braun said in a statement. “Over the past five months, having the chance to lead this group has been the opportunity of a lifetime. Moving forward, my mission is to build on this positive momentum, aiming to create one of the best experiences in college football for our student-athletes.

“To the entire Northwestern community, your support is the backbone of our success. Northwestern holds a special place in the collegiate landscape, with its top-notch academics, Big Ten football tradition and, most importantly, the incredible people within our University and athletic department. I want to express my gratitude to President [Michael] Schill, [Athletic director] Dr. [Derrick] Gragg and the search committee for entrusting me with the leadership of this program. And above all, a thank you to my wife, Kristin, for supporting me every step along the way.”

Braun now steps into his first full-time head-coaching position after previous stops as an assistant at North Dakota State, Northern Iowa and UC Davis among other schools….

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/northwestern-promotes-david-braun-to-full-time-coach-amid-turnaround-in-wake-of-pat-fitzgerald-firing/

Author : Dean Straka

Publish date : 2023-11-15 23:57:11

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.