CFB Rumors: David Braun Named Northwestern Interim HC After Pat Fitzgerald's Firing

Northwestern named defensive coordinator David Braun as its interim head coach for the 2023 season Thursday, according ESPN's Pete Thamel.

The move comes after the university fired longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald on Monday amid allegations of hazing and abuse surrounding the football program that he was reportedly aware of.

Braun, who was hired as the defensive coordinator in January following four years in the same capacity at North Dakota State, has never served as a head coach before.

At first, Northwestern only suspended Fitzgerald for two weeks following an investigation into hazing within the program. The school also planned on implementing a number of new policies such as the suspension of training camps in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and the monitoring of the locker room by someone not affiliated with the coaching staff.

It also plans on using a new hazing reporting tool and implement mandatory anti-hazing training for all coaches, staff members and student-athletes.

However, Fitzgerald's punishment would eventually turn into his termination after 17 years with the team following a report by the staff at the Daily Northwestern—the university's student newspaper. The Daily spoke with a former member of the program who revealed that "some of the hazing conduct investigated by the university involved coerced sexual acts."

One of the center pieces of the hazing became known around the team as "running" and it would be done to players who were making mistakes or not meeting the team's standards. The practice would include a player being "restrained by a group of eight-10 upperclassmen dressed in various 'Purge-like' masks, who would then begin 'dry-humping' the victim in a dark locker room."

The players would get selected for "running" after other team members would clap their hands above their heads around specific players. According to the former player, Fitzgerald would also engage in the hand signaling, demonstrating his awareness of the practice.

"Everyone would just be looking at each other and be like 'bro, Fitz knows about this,' because you wouldn't take that action otherwise," the player said. "Everyone joins in, because he's the head coach."

On Monday, the Daily Northwestern came out with yet another report detailing a racist environment within the football program after talking with several players.

Some of the examples given included Fitzgerald asking Black players but not white players to cut their long hair. He also told one player that he "wasn't in the hood anymore" and that he walked in a "gangster" fashion.

And at that point, Fitzgerald's fate was set.

There were, however, a number players that stood up in Fitzgerald's defense, releasing a statement in which they fought back at the allegations made against their coach and the program.

Now, the reasoning for elevating Braun, in particular, to interim coach was a no-brainer given his lack of extensive history with the program and its previous regime, only having been with the Wildcats about six months.

The players wanted clarity, per Thamel, and elevating Braun to interim coach provides that for the football team.

He'll have plenty on his plate in his first season at the helm, mainly trying to preserve a roster that is sure to see some departures following the report as there are still four weeks left in this transfer portal window.

This will be Braun's first season working at an FBS program, having previously coached at NDSU, Northern Iowa, UC Davis, Winona State and Culver-Stockton.