Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: John Konstantaras/Northwestern Athletics
David Braun Named Finalist for Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
12/5/2023 11:00:00β―AM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. β David Braun has been selected as one of 12 finalists for the 2023 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, the Football Writers Association announced on Tuesday.
Braun engineered the best turnaround in all of college football this season, leading the Wildcats to a 7-5 record and a berth in theΒ SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl.Β Northwestern's six-win improvement from 2022 to 2023 is the largest win improvement by any FBS team this season. Since 2000, the Wildcats are one of just five teams to win six or more games the year after finishing 1-11.
Last week, Braun became the fifth head coach in Northwestern history to earn Big Ten Coach of the Year honors since the award's inception in 1972.
David Braun's seven wins are tied with Coastal Carolina's Tim Beck for the most by a first-year head coach in FBS this season. His five conference wins are the most by a first-year head coach in program history.Β
Braun would become the third Wildcat head coach to win the award (formerly the FWAA Coach of the Year Award), joining Alex Agase (1970) and Gary Barnett (1995).
Northwestern finished the regular season with three-straight wins and a 5-4 conference record, finishing in second place in the Big Ten West division. The Wildcats are the first Big Ten team to go from one overall win to a winning record in conference play since Iowa in 1968.
Braun and the Wildcats will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada to take on Utah in the 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on December 23 at 6 p.m. CT on ABC.
2023 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Finalists
David Braun, Northwestern
Jamey Chadwell, Liberty
Kalen DeBoer, Washington
Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri
Jedd Fisch, Arizona
Rhett Lashlee, SMU
Chuck Martin, Miami (Ohio)
Mike Norvell, Florida State
Barry Odom, UNLV
Nick Saban Alabama
Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Jon Sumrall, Troy
Braun engineered the best turnaround in all of college football this season, leading the Wildcats to a 7-5 record and a berth in theΒ SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl.Β Northwestern's six-win improvement from 2022 to 2023 is the largest win improvement by any FBS team this season. Since 2000, the Wildcats are one of just five teams to win six or more games the year after finishing 1-11.
Last week, Braun became the fifth head coach in Northwestern history to earn Big Ten Coach of the Year honors since the award's inception in 1972.
David Braun's seven wins are tied with Coastal Carolina's Tim Beck for the most by a first-year head coach in FBS this season. His five conference wins are the most by a first-year head coach in program history.Β
Braun would become the third Wildcat head coach to win the award (formerly the FWAA Coach of the Year Award), joining Alex Agase (1970) and Gary Barnett (1995).
Northwestern finished the regular season with three-straight wins and a 5-4 conference record, finishing in second place in the Big Ten West division. The Wildcats are the first Big Ten team to go from one overall win to a winning record in conference play since Iowa in 1968.
Braun and the Wildcats will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada to take on Utah in the 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on December 23 at 6 p.m. CT on ABC.
2023 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Finalists
David Braun, Northwestern
Jamey Chadwell, Liberty
Kalen DeBoer, Washington
Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri
Jedd Fisch, Arizona
Rhett Lashlee, SMU
Chuck Martin, Miami (Ohio)
Mike Norvell, Florida State
Barry Odom, UNLV
Nick Saban Alabama
Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Jon Sumrall, Troy
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