North Dakota
BREAKING: Northwestern names North Dakota State’s David Braun as new defensive coordinator
After over a month of ready, Northwestern has lastly discovered its new defensive chief.
Per ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Northwestern soccer is reported to be hiring North Dakota State defensive playcaller David Braun as this system’s subsequent defensive coordinator. Braun will succeed Jim O’Neil, whom NU parted methods with on Nov. 29 after his two seasons in Evanston.
Sources: #Northwestern is ready to rent David Braun as defensive coordinator. He has held the identical submit at North Dakota State since 2019.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 9, 2023
Braun, who has served as NDSU’s defensive coordinator since 2019, closed out his season on Sunday with a 45-21 loss to South Dakota State within the FCS title recreation. It marked the third championship look for the Bison throughout Braun’s 4 years operating the protection. Throughout his tenure, the Bison received two FCS championships in 2019 and 2021, permitting a median of 12.3 and 11.1 factors per recreation in these seasons, respectively. The Winona State alum was additionally named because the FCS Coordinator of the Yr by FootballScoop in 2021.
Earlier than his time in Fargo, Braun took on quite a lot of roles teaching Northern Iowa from 2017-18, significantly as an out of doors linebackers and defensive position coach. He spent the 2 seasons earlier than teaching defensive linemen at UC Davis, which adopted his four-year tenure as Winona State’s co-defensive coordinator from 2011 to 2014.
Braun will definitely have his work lower out for him in Evanston. Along with restoring a as soon as fearsome protection to glory, the brand new coordinator should work with an nearly totally new beginning lineup. The secondary loses Cam Mitchell, A.J. Hampton Jr. and certain Jeremiah Lewis.
The defensive position may even lose a ton of depth. The chief up entrance in Adetomiwa Adebawore is coming into the draft, whereas Jordan Butler, Austin Firestone and Jason Gold Jr. have entered the switch portal. Moreover, linebacker Wendell Davis Jr. and defensive again Tyler Haskins have additionally opted to switch.
With the present switch window set to shut in simply 9 days, the previous North Dakota State defensive guru might want to do loads to repair a Northwestern unit that’s been one of many worst within the nation the final two seasons.