By Lydia Jane Allison
David Braun Northwestern FTB coach 2023 Big Ten Football Media Days 7 26 2023.mp3
EVANSTON, Ill. – Two-time national champion defensive coordinator David Braun has been named Northwestern University’s interim head football coach for the upcoming 2023 season, Combe Family Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Dr. Derrick Gragg announced Friday.
“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 Dr. Gragg and Northwestern leadership,” said Braun. “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 came to Evanston in January 2023 as the defensive coordinator after working in the same role at Division I FCS powerhouse North Dakota State for four seasons and leading the Bison to two FCS National Championships. Under Braun the Bison had the No. 1 scoring defense in the FCS twice over the last four seasons, including 2021 when he was named the Football Scoop FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year.
His career began at Winona State (Minn.), where he played on the defensive line, serving as team captain, earning two all-conference honors, and helping his team to three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships and three NCAA Division II Playoff appearances. After graduating in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in social science education, Braun joined the Winona State coaching staff as a graduate assistant.
Braun then served as the defensive coordinator at Culver-Stockton (Miss.) for one year in 2010, before heading back to Winona State to serve as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2011-2014. Braun worked the next two seasons at UC Davis coaching the defensive line going to Northern Iowa for two seasons where he coached the defensive line and outside linebackers and earning run game and special teams coordinator duties. In addition to his role as defensive coordinator at NDSU, he coached the team’s safeties.
Braun and his wife, Kristin, are the parents of two boys, Lucas and Andrew.
David Braun Coaching Career2019-22: North Dakota State (Defensive Coordinator)
2018: Northern Iowa (Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers)2017: Northern Iowa (Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line)2015-16: UC Davis (Defensive Line)2011-14: Winona State (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)2010: Culver-Stockton (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)2008-09: Winona State (Graduate Assistant)
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