Pat Fitzgerald fired; 5 candidates for new Northwestern HC
3. David Braun
With the announcement of Fitzgerald鈥檚 dismissal, Northwestern simultaneously announced that defensive coordinator David Braun would serve as interim head coach. Given the proximity of the upcoming season, Braun will likely end up leading the team for the 2023 season and the year will serve as a sample of what he can accomplish.
Braun joined the Wildcats staff in January after four seasons as defensive coordinator with the North Dakota State Bison where he led the team to two FCS national championships in 2019 and 2021, with the defensive unit finishing as the top-ranked scoring defense in the FCS both years. While Braun may not have head coaching experience, he has the benefit of already knowing the program as it is currently constructed and will have the opportunity to prove himself as a head man this season which may help him win the job.