HEAD COACH DAVID BRAUN

David Braun was named Northwestern University's Dan and Susan Jones Family head football coach, President Michael Schill and Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Dr. Derrick Gragg announced on November 15.

Braun led the Wildcats to an 8-5 record, capping off the season with a 14-7 win over Utah in the 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl.

The two-time national champion defensive coordinator secured the full-time head coaching job after previously being named Northwestern's interim head football coach on July 14 by Gragg ahead of the 2023 season.

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 in 2019 and 2021. Under Braun the Bison had the No. 1 scoring defense in the FCS twice over the last four seasons, including 2021 (allowed 11.1 points per game) when he was named the Football Scoop FCS Coordinator of the Year.

In 2019, the Bison held opponents to 12.3 points per game, ranked first in FCS in passing yards allowed (138.6 ypg), second in total defense (274.7 ypg), and second in passing efficiency defense (104.8). The defense recorded 17 total interceptions as NDSU went 16-0 and won the national championship.

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 (Mo.) 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 three: sons Lucas and Andrew, and daughter Blake.

Northwestern Football Camps are open to all, limited only by age and number of campers