Report: Northwestern expected to make David Braun 'day-to-day' liaison in the immediate

There is more news in the wake of Northwestern‘s decision to part ways with long-time college football head coach Pat Fitzgerald. According to college football insider Matt Fortuna, sources closest to the program anticipate that defensive coordinator David Braun will become the ‘day-to-day liaison’ of the program going forward. He also revealed that Fitzgerald has been in contact with the players since the announcement.

“Expect Northwestern to make defensive coordinator David Braun the day-to-day liaison for the football program for the time being.

“Pat Fitzgerald and his family addressed the players tonight in an emotional farewell, per source,” wrote Fortuna via Twitter.

Fitzgerald took over head coaching duties at Northwestern in 2006 after spending his first five years as a position coach for the Wildcats. During his time as head coach, he has amassed a record of 110-101 with two Big Ten West division titles (2018, 2020) and a record of 5-5 in bowl games. In 2018, he was awarded the Big Ten Coach of the Year Award and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his time at Northwestern as a linebacker from 1993-1996.

Braun joined the Northwestern coaching staff this offseason as their new defensive coordinator following four years as North Dakota State’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach. During his time with the Bison, North Dakota State picked up two Football Championship Subdivision titles.

The decision comes to let go of Fitzgerald in the wake of hazing allegations within the program that saw Fitzgerald receive a two-week suspension.

Northwestern’s staff got the news via Zoom Monday evening, On3’s Matt Zenitz reported.

Fitzgerald was the head coach at his alma mater for 17 years, taking over after the sudden death of former coach Randy Walker in 2006. A former Northwestern linebacker and College Football Hall of Famer, Fitzgerald totaled a 110-101 record in his time at the helm, including a 65-76 mark in Big Ten play.

In January, Northwestern launched an investigation into the football program after receiving allegations of hazing. On July 7, Fitzgerald received a two-week suspension without pay as a result of the investigation even though the investigation “did not discover sufficient evidence to believe that coaching staff knew about the ongoing hazing conduct.”

The Wildcats also had to permanently halt their “Camp Kenosha” practices in Wisconsin. Additionally, the university said it will require someone who doesn’t report to the football coaching staff to monitor the locker room.

Fitzgerald released a statement on the matter after he received his suspension, saying he had no prior knowledge of the allegations and expressing his disappointment.

“Northwestern football prides itself on producing not just athletes, but fine young men with character befitting the program and our university,” Fitzgerald said in his statement. “We hold our student-athletes and our program to the highest standards; we will continue to work to exceed those standards moving forward.”