David Braun has been thrust into a position he did not anticipate being in.

Back in January, Braun was hired by then-Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald to be NU’s defensive coordinator. Six months later, Braun is running the program.

Braun is serving as the Wildcats’ interim head coach after Fitzgerald was fired following an investigation into hazing in his football program. Fitzgerald, who was going into his 18th season as the head coach at his alma mater, has denied having any knowledge of hazing, but several former players have filed lawsuits against the school alleging the hazing activities were widespread in the program.

With the 2023 football season less than two months away, the ongoing scandal pushed Braun into an uncomfortable spotlight Wednesday at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis.