Northwestern will promote defensive coordinator David Braun to serve interim head football coach for the 2023 season, according to ESPN. Braun was hired by Northwestern to serve as defensive coordinator in January, but will now be assuming the role of interim head coach in the wake of the school firing Pat Fitzgerald earlier this week.
The school fired Fitzgerald amid a hazing scandal that rocked the university as a plethora of former Northwestern players pointed out culture issues within the program. Northwestern initially handed down a two-week suspension to Fitzgerald to be served immediately, but as more allegations came to light, the school ultimately decided to part ways with the longtime football coach.
“The decision comes after a difficult and complex evaluation of my original discipline decision imposed last week on Coach Fitzgerald for his failure to know and prevent significant hazing in the football program,” Northwestern president Michael Schill said in a statement this week. “Over the last 72 hours, I have spent a great deal of time in thought and in discussions with people who love our University — the Chair and members of our Board of Trustees, faculty leadership, students, alumni and Coach Fitzgerald himself. I have also received many phone calls, text messages and emails from those I know, and those I don’t, sharing their thoughts. While I am appreciative of the feedback and considered it in my decision-making, ultimately, the decision to originally suspend Coach Fitzgerald was mine and mine alone, as is the decision to part ways with him.”