Eastern Michigan Athletics
Ben Braun’s Legacy Cemented with MAC Hall of Fame Induction
5/30/2025 10:43:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The former EMU men's basketball coach was inducted into the league's hall of fame
Braun Video Accolades | Braun Interview | Ramsey Interview | Brusewitz Interview | Photo Gallery
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — On a night dedicated to legends, Ben Braun stood humbly at center stage as he was officially inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame—an honor that felt, in his own words, "a little surreal." But to those who played with him, coached beside him, and witnessed the transformation of Eastern Michigan University basketball under his leadership, the accolade was not just appropriate—it was long overdue.
Braun, who served as head coach at EMU from 1985-96, carved out one of the most successful coaching careers in MAC history. He led the Eagles to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a historic Sweet 16 run in 1991, while becoming EMU's all-time winningest coach. Yet for Braun, the moment was less about personal achievement and more about those who walked the journey with him.
"You want to stay humble, but there are so many people that really need to share in this award," Braun said during his induction remarks. "I think back to the student-athletes I coached, the community, the students at Eastern Michigan, the Ypsilanti community, administrators, faculty… it means a lot. Awards like this are team awards."
That humility and loyalty were echoed by Charles E. Ramsey, Braun's longtime assistant and eventual EMU head coach, who called him not just a mentor, but a "friend, brother, and godfather to my sons."
"He hired me three times," Ramsey recalled with a smile. "And each time, he believed in me. He guided me—sometimes even when I had to leave him. That's the kind of man Ben is. He doesn't just open doors—he stands by you as you walk through them."
Braun's career after Eastern took him to the Pac-10, where he revitalized the program at Cal, and later to Rice. But it's his roots in Ypsilanti that remain foundational. Just last year, EMU named its basketball court after him, and this latest Hall of Fame recognition added another emotional chapter.
"I've had more time to reflect now that I'm out of coaching," Braun said. "To be part of this Hall of Fame, among so many great coaches—it's a great honor for me, my family, and everyone who made this possible."
Among those in attendance was former EMU player and fellow E-Club Hall of Famer Jack Brusewitz, who has remained a close friend for more than four decades.
"Ben brought a standard to EMU basketball that we'd never seen," Brusewitz said. "The teams he built—those deep tournament runs—put Eastern on the national map. What he did wasn't just special for the university. It was historic for the whole conference."
Brusewitz shared a memory from Braun's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1988, recalling the energy around campus and the team's underdog mentality. "Ben had a way of making you believe you belonged on the big stage," he said. "He didn't just prepare you to win games—he prepared you to carry yourself like you belonged there. And we did."
That belief has lasted long after the final buzzer of his coaching career. Though no longer on the sidelines, Braun still contributes to the game, calling games on ESPN and lending his voice to EMU broadcasts—undefeated, he jokes, when calling Eastern games.
"What's next?" Braun grinned. "I just want to see EMU and Coach Stan Heath get the success they deserve. I'll keep coming back, keep calling games, whatever I can do to help the program. There's nothing better."
The final word, though, may belong to Ramsey, who summed up the night and the man succinctly: "You think Eastern Michigan basketball—you think Ben. That's the legacy. And tonight, that legacy's in the Hall of Fame."
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — On a night dedicated to legends, Ben Braun stood humbly at center stage as he was officially inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame—an honor that felt, in his own words, "a little surreal." But to those who played with him, coached beside him, and witnessed the transformation of Eastern Michigan University basketball under his leadership, the accolade was not just appropriate—it was long overdue.
Braun, who served as head coach at EMU from 1985-96, carved out one of the most successful coaching careers in MAC history. He led the Eagles to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a historic Sweet 16 run in 1991, while becoming EMU's all-time winningest coach. Yet for Braun, the moment was less about personal achievement and more about those who walked the journey with him.
"You want to stay humble, but there are so many people that really need to share in this award," Braun said during his induction remarks. "I think back to the student-athletes I coached, the community, the students at Eastern Michigan, the Ypsilanti community, administrators, faculty… it means a lot. Awards like this are team awards."
That humility and loyalty were echoed by Charles E. Ramsey, Braun's longtime assistant and eventual EMU head coach, who called him not just a mentor, but a "friend, brother, and godfather to my sons."
"He hired me three times," Ramsey recalled with a smile. "And each time, he believed in me. He guided me—sometimes even when I had to leave him. That's the kind of man Ben is. He doesn't just open doors—he stands by you as you walk through them."
Braun's career after Eastern took him to the Pac-10, where he revitalized the program at Cal, and later to Rice. But it's his roots in Ypsilanti that remain foundational. Just last year, EMU named its basketball court after him, and this latest Hall of Fame recognition added another emotional chapter.
"I've had more time to reflect now that I'm out of coaching," Braun said. "To be part of this Hall of Fame, among so many great coaches—it's a great honor for me, my family, and everyone who made this possible."
Among those in attendance was former EMU player and fellow E-Club Hall of Famer Jack Brusewitz, who has remained a close friend for more than four decades.
"Ben brought a standard to EMU basketball that we'd never seen," Brusewitz said. "The teams he built—those deep tournament runs—put Eastern on the national map. What he did wasn't just special for the university. It was historic for the whole conference."
Brusewitz shared a memory from Braun's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1988, recalling the energy around campus and the team's underdog mentality. "Ben had a way of making you believe you belonged on the big stage," he said. "He didn't just prepare you to win games—he prepared you to carry yourself like you belonged there. And we did."
That belief has lasted long after the final buzzer of his coaching career. Though no longer on the sidelines, Braun still contributes to the game, calling games on ESPN and lending his voice to EMU broadcasts—undefeated, he jokes, when calling Eastern games.
"What's next?" Braun grinned. "I just want to see EMU and Coach Stan Heath get the success they deserve. I'll keep coming back, keep calling games, whatever I can do to help the program. There's nothing better."
The final word, though, may belong to Ramsey, who summed up the night and the man succinctly: "You think Eastern Michigan basketball—you think Ben. That's the legacy. And tonight, that legacy's in the Hall of Fame."
Ben Braun Video at MAC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Friday, May 30
Ben Braun at MAC Hall of Fame Induction
Friday, May 30
Charles E. Ramsey - MAC Hall of Fame Induction of Ben Braun
Friday, May 30
Jack Brusewitz - MAC Hall of Fame Induction of Ben Braun
Friday, May 30