TWU Spartans Hall of Fame
JAKE BRAUN
YEARS ACTIVE: 1970-1980
TWU SPARTANS HALL OF FAME 2003
Since its infancy in the early 1960s, Trinity Western Junior College sought to build an Athletics program of significance. As one of the early champions of TWU Athletics, Jake Braun's leadership was key in enabling the Trinity Western men’s basketball team to move to the next level. Leaving a secure teaching and coaching position at MEI in 1970, Braun accepted the position of Basketball coach at TWU offered to him by the President, Cal Hanson, and Athletic Director, Don Tavolacci.
Becoming a part of a small two-year college program required flexibility and Braun took on teaching roles as needed; he even coached soccer at one point. Braun’s quiet yet strong leadership style along with his vision for the men’s basketball team led the team to a level of publicity and reputability within collegiate circles that had not existed prior to his arrival. From 1970 - 1980 Braun took the men’s basketball team from a history of frequent defeats to the point of taking on colleges ten times its size and winning provincial championships. After 10 years with the men’s team, he coached the women’s basketball team.
As the college grew in size and stature, Braun's consistency and drive for excellence paralleled the vision and mission of the college. Braun’s presence brought a new level of professionalism and respectability to Trinity Western's ever growing Physical Education and Athletics programs.
Throughout his 14 years at TWU, Braun’s faith in God remained his passion, and the quality of his character was evident to all who came in contact with him. “He was a person of few words,” says Murray Hall, TWU Director of Athletics, “But when he did say something, you wanted to write it down. His contagious, infectious faith came through in his life, in his relationships with others, and in his words."
Now an avid golfer, Jake Braun resides in Abbotsford with his wife Eva. Two of their grandchildren have attended TWU.
Thank-you Jake, for your pioneer spirit and ground-breaking leadership which helped build a solid foundation for Spartan Athletics.
Gary Naylor - “He is a man of integrity and a man of God’s Word., he is a man of few words, but when he says something, it means something.”
