2008 Woodie Awards
Braun chosen as new men's basketball coach
Casey Michel
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: News
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Athletic Director Chris Del Conte said Braun brightens the program's future prospects.
"This is an exciting moment for Rice athletics," Del Conte said. "Braun is an established coach who shares our vision in the potential that exists in the opportunity to coach at Rice. He has demonstrated again and again the ability to not only produce quality teams on the court, but also quality student-athletes who can excel in the classroom as well."
Braun's resumé includes Division I experience with coaching the men's basketball team at the University of California-Berkeley since 1997. Prior to his stint at Berkeley, Braun coached Sienna Heights College from 1977-85 and led the Saints to a 148-103 record. He then moved on to Eastern Michigan University for 11 seasons, where he led the Eagles to four postseason berths and the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 1991.
At Cal, the Chicago native compiled a 219-154 record in 12 seasons, the second-highest win total in the school's history. As he enters his 32nd season as a head coach, Braun has 552 wins to his name, 11th-most among active coaches.
In his first season with Cal, Braun led the team to the Sweet 16, his first of five NCAA Tournament appearances. The Golden Bears also won the National Invitation Tournament Championship in 1999 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2002 and '03. Besides his teams' results, Braun also received 1997 Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors and was a finalist for the 2003 Naismith National Coach of the year.
The Golden Bears missed the postseason from 2005-'07 before falling to Ohio State University in the second round of the 2008 NIT. Cal fired Braun on March 26, two days after their loss to the Buckeyes.
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