Ben Braun
Encyclopedia
Ben Braun is the men's college basketball coach at Rice University
. He previously spent 12 years with the California
Golden Bears program and 11 years at Eastern Michigan University
, where he remains the winningest coach in school history.
in 1975, Braun began his career as an assistant coach at Park High School in Racine, Wisconsin. After two years of coaching high school basketball, he accepted the head coaching job at Siena Heights University
. Braun coached Siena Heights for eight years taking the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(NAIA) school to a 148-103 record and five postseason tournaments.
Prior to the 1985-86 season, Braun took on the position of associate head coach at Eastern Michigan
. Midway through the year, on Jan. 15, 1986, he was elevated to interim head coach. Within two years his Eagles were in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. During his 11 years at Eastern Michigan, he guided the Eagles to four postseason berths, including three NCAA appearances. Braun accumulated a record of 185-132 and was named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year three times. His 185 wins make him the winningest coach in Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball
history.
Braun replaced Todd Bozeman
as the head coach at Cal
prior to the 1996-1997 season. Expectations were low as Golden Bears were predicted to finish in the bottom half of the conference. However, the team finished tied for second in the conference and reached the NCAA Sweet 16. The team finished the season 23-9 and gave Braun a school record for most wins by a Bear coach in his first year with the program. Ben Braun went on to win the Pac-10 Coach of the Year - the first Cal coach to ever receive the award.
In the 1998-1999 season, Braun's club defeated North Carolina, UCLA, and Arizona during the course of the year to become the first team ever at Cal to beat three Top 10 schools in the same season. Then after entering the NIT
, the Bears, led by Geno Carlisle
, won five consecutive postseason games to capture the NIT title - Cal's first postseason tournament championship since the Bears won the 1959 NCAA title. Cal finished the 1998-99 campaign with a 22-11 record.
In 2000-01, the Bears returned to the NCAA Tournament, finishing with a 20-11 record, and Sean Lampley
- Braun's first recruit at Cal after NCAA sanctions were lifted from Bozeman's tenure - became the school's all-time leading scorer late in his senior campaign, finishing with 1,776 points.
In 2001-02, the Bears again went 23-9 and tied for second in the Pac-10 stadings. Cal earned a No. 6 seed in the NCAA playoffs, where the Bears toppled Penn before falling to Pittsburgh in the second round.
In 2002-03, Cal again reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament behind All-Pac-10 forwards Joe Shipp and Amit Tamir
. Shipp ended his career with the No. 3 position on the Bears' all-time scoring list, while teammate Brian Wethers
finished in the No. 15 position.
In 2005-06, Cal defeated USC and Oregon to reach the Pac-10 Tournament final for the first time ever. Leon Powe
and the Bears then earned a No. 7 regional seed in the NCAA Tournament and finished the year with a 20-11 mark. On Nov. 21, 2005, Cal defeated Long Beach State, 88-69, to give Braun his 500th career win.
During his tenure at Cal, Braun has directed the Bears to more postseason appearances and more postseason victories than any coach in school history. He finished the 2006-07 campaign with a 202-138 record with the Bears and a 29-year career mark of 535-373. He ranks second to Nibs Price
(1925–54, 449-294) in both tenure and wins at Cal, while his Cal winning percentage (.606) is the best at the school since Hall of Famer Pete Newell
guided the Bears to a 119-44 mark from 1955-60.
Two days after losing to Ohio State
in the 2008 National Invitation Tournament
, Braun was fired as head coach of the Golden Bears on March 26, 2008. He is now the head men's coach at Rice
, replacing Willis Wilson
.
in Winnetka, Illinois
He and his wife, Jessica, are expecting their first child (as of April 2008). His father is Academy Award nominee Producer, Zev Braun.
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. He previously spent 12 years with the California
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
Golden Bears program and 11 years at Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball
The Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team has appeared in four NCAA Division I tournaments, and have a 3-4 record, tied for third best among Michigan colleges...
, where he remains the winningest coach in school history.
Coaching History
After graduating from WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1975, Braun began his career as an assistant coach at Park High School in Racine, Wisconsin. After two years of coaching high school basketball, he accepted the head coaching job at Siena Heights University
Siena Heights University
Siena Heights University is a Roman Catholic postsecondary institution in Adrian, Michigan. It is affiliated with the St. Joseph Academy and Montessori Children’s House.-History:...
. Braun coached Siena Heights for eight years taking the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
(NAIA) school to a 148-103 record and five postseason tournaments.
Prior to the 1985-86 season, Braun took on the position of associate head coach at Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
. Midway through the year, on Jan. 15, 1986, he was elevated to interim head coach. Within two years his Eagles were in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. During his 11 years at Eastern Michigan, he guided the Eagles to four postseason berths, including three NCAA appearances. Braun accumulated a record of 185-132 and was named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year three times. His 185 wins make him the winningest coach in Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball
Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball
The Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team has appeared in four NCAA Division I tournaments, and have a 3-4 record, tied for third best among Michigan colleges...
history.
Braun replaced Todd Bozeman
Todd Bozeman
Todd Bozeman is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Morgan State University.-Berkeley:...
as the head coach at Cal
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
prior to the 1996-1997 season. Expectations were low as Golden Bears were predicted to finish in the bottom half of the conference. However, the team finished tied for second in the conference and reached the NCAA Sweet 16. The team finished the season 23-9 and gave Braun a school record for most wins by a Bear coach in his first year with the program. Ben Braun went on to win the Pac-10 Coach of the Year - the first Cal coach to ever receive the award.
In the 1998-1999 season, Braun's club defeated North Carolina, UCLA, and Arizona during the course of the year to become the first team ever at Cal to beat three Top 10 schools in the same season. Then after entering the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
, the Bears, led by Geno Carlisle
Geno Carlisle
Geno Marcellus Carlisle is an American professional basketball player. The 6' 3", 200-lb. point guard has played in Venezuela, Italy, Spain, Greece, Kuwait, the American Basketball Association and Continental Basketball Association.-Collegiate career:Carlisle began his collegiate basketball...
, won five consecutive postseason games to capture the NIT title - Cal's first postseason tournament championship since the Bears won the 1959 NCAA title. Cal finished the 1998-99 campaign with a 22-11 record.
In 2000-01, the Bears returned to the NCAA Tournament, finishing with a 20-11 record, and Sean Lampley
Sean Lampley
Sean Lampley is an American professional basketball player.-College career:Lampley played at the University of California, leading the Golden Bears to victory over Clemson in the 1999 National Invitational Tournament and earning MVP honors...
- Braun's first recruit at Cal after NCAA sanctions were lifted from Bozeman's tenure - became the school's all-time leading scorer late in his senior campaign, finishing with 1,776 points.
In 2001-02, the Bears again went 23-9 and tied for second in the Pac-10 stadings. Cal earned a No. 6 seed in the NCAA playoffs, where the Bears toppled Penn before falling to Pittsburgh in the second round.
In 2002-03, Cal again reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament behind All-Pac-10 forwards Joe Shipp and Amit Tamir
Amit Tamir
Amit Yosef Tamir is an Israeli professional basketball player. He is a 2.08 m tall center/forward and he currently plays for Maccabi Rishon LeZion.-Basketball career:...
. Shipp ended his career with the No. 3 position on the Bears' all-time scoring list, while teammate Brian Wethers
Brian Wethers
Brian Wethers is an American professional basketball player. Wethers primarily plays the small forward or shooting guard position.-College basketball:...
finished in the No. 15 position.
In 2005-06, Cal defeated USC and Oregon to reach the Pac-10 Tournament final for the first time ever. Leon Powe
Leon Powe
Leon Powe, Jr. is an American professional basketball power forward who last played for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association . Drafted in 2006 by the Denver Nuggets, Powe grew up in Oakland, California and played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley...
and the Bears then earned a No. 7 regional seed in the NCAA Tournament and finished the year with a 20-11 mark. On Nov. 21, 2005, Cal defeated Long Beach State, 88-69, to give Braun his 500th career win.
During his tenure at Cal, Braun has directed the Bears to more postseason appearances and more postseason victories than any coach in school history. He finished the 2006-07 campaign with a 202-138 record with the Bears and a 29-year career mark of 535-373. He ranks second to Nibs Price
Nibs Price
-External links:* at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com...
(1925–54, 449-294) in both tenure and wins at Cal, while his Cal winning percentage (.606) is the best at the school since Hall of Famer Pete Newell
Pete Newell
Peter Francis Newell was an American college men's basketball coach and basketball instructional coach. He coached for 15 years at the University of San Francisco, Michigan State University and the University of California, Berkeley, compiling an overall record of 234 wins and 123 losses...
guided the Bears to a 119-44 mark from 1955-60.
Two days after losing to Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
in the 2008 National Invitation Tournament
2008 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals and Final:Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 1 and 3* - Overtime game.-External links:*...
, Braun was fired as head coach of the Golden Bears on March 26, 2008. He is now the head men's coach at Rice
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, replacing Willis Wilson
Willis Wilson
Willis Thomas Wilson, Jr. is the head coach of the Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders men's basketball team. He previously served an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers basketball team. Previously, Wilson was head coach of the college basketball team at Rice University for 16 seasons...
.
Head coaching record
Personal life
He is an alumnus of New Trier High SchoolNew Trier High School
New Trier High School is a public four-year high school , with its major campus located in Winnetka, Illinois, USA, and a second campus in Northfield, Illinois, with freshman classes and district administration...
in Winnetka, Illinois
Winnetka, Illinois
Winnetka is an affluent North Shore village located approximately north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. Winnetka was featured on the list of America's 25 top-earning towns and "one of the best places to live" by CNN Money in 2011...
He and his wife, Jessica, are expecting their first child (as of April 2008). His father is Academy Award nominee Producer, Zev Braun.