Howie Braun

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Howie Braun
Fighting Illini Assistant Coach Howie Braun.png
Howie Braun
Biographical details
Born(1912-11-13)November 13, 1912
Champaign, Illinois
DiedJanuary 9, 1996(1996-01-09) (aged 83)
Urbana, Illinois
Playing career
1933–1936Illinois
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1937–1967Illinois (assistant)

Howard J. Braun (November 13, 1912 – January 9, 1996) was an American college basketball assistant coach for the University of Illinois from 1937 to 1967.[1] Braun graduated from the University of Illinois in 1936. He won six varsity letters in tennis and basketball and was a member of the "I" Men's Club.[2]

For three decades Howie Braun was responsible for all recruiting of high school basketball player for the University of Illinois. Braun worked and played for three legendary Fighting Illini head coaches. From 1933–1936, Braun played for Craig Ruby, winning a Big Ten Conference championship in 1935. He coached with Doug Mills from 1937 to 1947, winning conference championships in 1937, 1942 and 1943, and Harry Combes from 1948–1967, winning conference championships in 1949, 1951, 1952 and 1963.[3]

While recruiting, head coaches generally didn't become involved until an athlete made it to campus for an official visit. Since there was no AAU summer basketball as exists today, most major college coaches had the summers to themselves. While on the recruiting circuit, Braun was known for operating alone. He was known for being an intense, strong-willed man with a good heart who many former athletes respected.[4]

After a notorious slush-fund[5] scandal in 1967, Braun was banned from coaching in the Big Ten and began working in public relations at the Commercial Bank of Champaign.[6] He also was president of Worden-Martin Leasing from 1967 to 1977.[7] Additionally, he was the pro golf manager at Lincolnshire Fields golf course in Champaign.

References[]

  1. ^ http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-baskbl/archive/MBKBHist-All-TimeRosters--1950-74.html#1958 Archived 2010-04-22 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-12-29. Retrieved 2013-01-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05-06_mbk_guide05.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ A Century of Orange and Blue: Celebrating 100 Years of Fighting Illini Basketball By , Jared Gelfond pg.272 ISBN 1-58261-793-7
  5. ^ "For those who came in late . . . Harry Combes (Part 3)". phoenix.illiniclub.org.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-08. Retrieved 2013-01-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Funeral Notices – Tucson Citizen Morgue, Part 2 (1993–2009)".
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