Auburn coach Hugh Freeze reacts to Charlie Kirk murder: 'He was a friend of mine'

Following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, college coaches and administrators around the country are grappling with how to deal with the issue. Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze is no exception.

Freeze had a personal relationship with Kirk, he said, describing him as “a friend of mine” on Thursday. The two got to know each other at Freeze’s previous coaching stop.

“Yesterday obviously with Charlie Kirk’s assassination, he was a friend of mine, got to know him well at Liberty,” Freeze said, via On3’s Bryan Matthews. “Irregardless of your view on everything, he, for me, he modeled what he believed in better than anyone I’ve ever met.”

Hugh Freeze noted that he had discussed the assassination with his team. He shared a little bit about that conversation with reporters.

“I shared with the kids and even text my daughters this morning, like, ‘Do I model for you that faith is the most important thing to me, family, and then this room (of players)?'” Hugh Freeze said. “He did that. He modeled what he believed in.

“I hope and pray that my daughters, as imperfect as I am, they see that I’ve modeled faith and family and protecting them and providing for them. That’s what I want these young men to get from everything that’s going on. Because, man, you find out what you really believe in and then live in a way that models it. Lot of things that we can talk about today, I know, and we will. But wanted to be sure and get that said.”

Kirk was killed while attending a debate event at Utah Valley University. He was shot once in the neck, fatally.

About 3,000 people were in attendance at the time of the shooting, according to the Associated Press. A shooting suspect was initially captured, then later released, according to the FBI.

Law enforcement officials believed that the shot was fired from the roof of a building located near the courtyard where Kirk was speaking. Onlookers fled in multiple directions upon hearing the shot ring out.

Following Kirk’s death, coaches like Hugh Freeze and athletes from across the spectrum weighed in on the tragic event. Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl weighed in via Twitter.

“Charlie was an optimist! He was leading a revival of conservative Christian values and the happiness it could lead to!” Pearl wrote. “Charlie is irreplaceable! A true evangelist. ‘if you disagree with me, step up to the front of the line.’ Condolences to his family and the young people of this country.

“Many in our Auburn student body are horrified tonight, you young patriots who love our country like Charlie. For now let’s morn, keep the violent rhetoric down and then live our best lives, committed to making this country better.”