Chad Braun

Chad Braun became the 31st head coach in Monmouth football history in 2015 after serving as the defensive coordinator for 15 seasons. Braun didn't wait long to earn a conference title, winning the Midwest Conference crown in just his second season, the same year the Scots claimed their fourth Gagliardi Trophy finalist. His team repeated as MWC champions in 2017, earning their first back-to-back titles since Braun’s assistant days in 2008 and 2009. Another league title came the Scots' way in 2019, the same year Braun earned his fifth straight Coach of the Year honor from the Midwest Conference. Monmouth shared a MWC crown in 2022 and won the inaugural Lakefront Bowl after losing out on the automatic bid tiebreaker. 

Braun continues to direct the defense as head coach, a defense which led the nation in scoring defense in 2016 and 2018. The 2016 squad coupled with the offense which laid claim to the nation’s top individual pass efficiency rating to win their fifth league crown with Braun on the coaching staff. The team repeated as league champions in 2017, giving Braun two league titles in three years, making him a multiple league champion faster than any coach in Scots’ football history.

Under Braun’s direction, the Scots’ defensive units have been known as a swarming, hard-hitting group. During his tenure both as head coach and prior as an assistant, the defense has rewritten Monmouth’s modern-era record book and been among the nation’s leaders in numerous categories, including scoring defense, turnover margin, interceptions, pass defense efficiency and total defense. 

Braun's teams have won four conference titles, produced eight All-Americans and he has won five Midwest Conference Coach of the Year awards. 

Coach Braun is also the winningest men's tennis coach in Monmouth history. He coached the men's tennis team from 2004-14 and posted a record of 139-112 for a .553 win percentage. Braun coached five MWC singles champions and three doubles champions and was in charge for both 20+ win seasons in school history. The 2006 team won a school-record 22 matches and Braun was named the 2011 Midwest Conference Coach of the Year.

Prior to joining the Scots in 2000 as the defensive coordinator, Braun coached at MacMurray College from 1997-2000. He started his coaching career at Jacksonville High School, working the sidelines for the Crimsons from 1994 to 1997.

A native of Aurora, Illinois, Braun earned a degree from Illinois College (1995) where he was also an all-conference performer on the football field. He earned his master’s degree in physical education/sports management from Western Illinois University in 2003. Braun and his wife, Jen, a lecturer in the college’s kinesiology department, reside in Monmouth with their four children, Hannah, Silas, Asa and Elle. Silas is a freshman member of the Fighting Scots football team in 2023.

Education:

Bachelor of Science: Biology, Secondary Education, Illinois College '95

Masters: Physical Education/Sports Management, Western Illinois University '03

Coaching Career:

Jacksonville High School 1994-97

MacMurray College 1997-2000

Monmouth College Defensive Coordinator 2000-14

Monmouth College Head Coach, 2015-present, (59-14)

Midwest Conference Coach of the Year (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

2022: 9-2, MWC co-Champs. Lakefront Bowl Champs

2021: 8-2

2020: No season - COVID

2019: 7-3, MWC Champs, NCAA Playoff Appearance

2018: 8-2, MWC South Division Champs

2017: 9-2, MWC Champs, NCAA Playoff Appearance

2016: 10-1, MWC Champs, NCAA Playoff Appearance

2015: 8-2

National Player Recognition:

All-Americans

2022: Korbyn Personett, DL (AFCA Second Team, Associated Press First Team)

2021: Korbyn Personett, DL (AFCA First Team)

2019: Joe Krall, OL (AFCA First Team, D3football.com First Team, Associated Press Second Team)

2018: Thomas Lesniewski, DE (AFCA Second Team)

2017: Micam Smith, DB (AFCA Second Team)

2016: Matt Barnes, LB (AFCA First Team; Associated Press Second Team), Kolton Koch, OL (D3football.com Second Team), Tanner Matlick, QB (AFCA Second Team)

All-Region

2022: Korbyn Personett (D3football.com First Team), Derek Brown (D3football.com First Team), Addison Fletcher (D3football.com Third Team), Nick Harris (D3football.com Third Team), Nate Thornton (D3football.com Third Team)

2021: Korbyn Personett (D3football.com Second Team), Derek Brown (D3football.com Second Team), Kaleb Plattenberger (D3football.com Third Team), Addison Fletcher (D3football.com Third Team)

2019: Joey Biel, P (D3football.com Third Team), Joe Krall, OL (D3football.com First Team)

2018: Joe Krall, OL (D3football.com Third Team), Thomas Lesniewski, DE (D3football.com Second Team)

2017: Joe Krall, OL (D3football.com Second Team), Kyle Schultz, LB (D3football.com Second Team), Micam Smith, DB (D3football.com Second Team)

2016: Matt Barnes, LB (D3football.com Third Team). Thomas Lesniewski, DE (D3football.com Third Team), Kolton Koch, OL (D3football.com First Team)

2015: Thomas Lesniewski, DE (D3football.com Third Team)

Other National Awards

2022: Korbyn Personett, DE (Cliff Harris Award Finalist)

2021: Korbyn Personett, DE (Cliff Harris Award Finalist)

2018: Thomas Lesniewski, DE (Cliff Harris Award Finalist)

2017: Micam Smith, DB (Cliff Harris Award Finalist)

2016: Matt Barnes, LB (Gagliardi Finalist, Cliff Harris Award Finalist)