NEW PODCAST: Hugh Freeze, Liberty Head Football Coach

By Jason Romano Mar 18, 2019

Liberty University head football coach Hugh Freeze in December 2018. (Photo by Joel Coleman/Liberty)

THIS IS EPISODE 266 OF THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST

Hugh Freeze was introduced as the ninth head coach in the history of the Liberty Flames’ football program on Dec. 7. Prior to Liberty, Freeze’s collegiate head coaching stops included Lambuth University (2008-09), Arkansas State (2011) and Ole Miss (2012-16), where he posted a combined 69-32 mark in eight seasons.

In 2017, he resigned from his position at Ole Miss amid an NCAA investigation and evidence of personal misconduct.

Prior to taking over as head coach at Lambuth, Freeze served on the Ole Miss staff from 2005-07, including the final two seasons as an assistant coach. Before going to Ole Miss, Freeze served 13 years at Briarcrest Christian School (Memphis, Tenn.) as a classroom teacher, coach and administrator. He was the Saints’ head football coach from 1995 to 2004, running the no-huddle “spread system” for six years that led to six straight state championship games.

Freeze compiled a 99-23 record while at Briarcrest, which included an undefeated season in 1996 and led the school to state championship titles in 2002 and 2004. Briarcrest won regional titles in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002, and Freeze was named the Region 8-AA Coach of the Year five times and Associated Press Coach of the Year four times.

In 2014, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) awarded Freeze the Grant Teaff Coach of the Year award. Freeze has been heavily involved with FCA during his entire coaching career and has been featured in FCA Magazine and spoke at FCA functions.

On March 30, Coach Freeze will be a part of GameDay 2019, a groundbreaking event coming to churches to meet men at the intersection of faith and sports. Creating an atmosphere much like a locker room with coaches laying out the big game plan, GameDay engages men in a discussion about how to become the spiritual leader of their families. It’s real guys discussing real issues and how to become better followers of Christ, husbands, fathers, friends and workers. You can sign up for GameDay 2019 by clicking here.

On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Coach Freeze about his new role with Liberty and how God has worked in and through his life since the new opportunity came forth.