Current and former Liberty University football players expressed their support for former head coach Hugh Freeze after he revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis. On Thursday, Liberty posted a video on X, featuring players sharing encouraging messages for their former coach.
Liberty Players Honor Hugh Freeze’s Impact As He Faces Cancer Battle
Players let him know that he’s in their prayers and that they’re rooting for him to beat cancer. Liberty football legend Malik Willis shared his emotions and expressed what Freeze meant to him.
“Me and my family are praying for you,” Willis said. “All the guys are praying for you, and everybody’s trying to keep you and the family uplifted. We have faith in you.”
Freeze had an impressive run as Liberty’s head coach from 2019 to 2022, with a strong record of 34-15. After his successful time with the Flames, Freeze moved on to become the head coach at Auburn in 2023, where he has now been for two years.
we’re with you and we’re praying for you, @CoachHughFreeze ❤️ pic.twitter.com/m3o6trKLmD
— Liberty Football (@LibertyFootball) March 6, 2025
Auburn has announced that even with his prostate cancer diagnosis, Freeze will keep coaching the Tigers. The university showed full support for Freeze, recognizing his dedication to the team and his decision to continue his coaching duties while also focusing on his treatment.
This isn’t the first time Freeze has faced a challenge while coaching. Back in 2019, during his first game at Liberty, Freeze coached from a hospital bed in the press box after having surgery for a herniated disk and dealing with a staph infection. He was still recovering from his health issues during the 24-0 loss to Syracuse on Aug. 31, 2019.
Freeze has a record of 11-14 in his first two seasons at Auburn, with a 5-11 record in SEC play. The Tigers are set to begin spring practice on March 25. Despite the challenges he has faced at Auburn, Freeze’s team is more determined than ever to fight for him, knowing he is battling both on and off the field.
“I think we can turn it fairly fast with the new world we’re in,” Freeze said.
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Freeze’s story is one of strength and dedication, both as a coach and as a person. As he faces his cancer battle, it’s clear that his impact goes far beyond football. The support he’s receiving from current and former players, as well as both the Auburn and Liberty communities, shows just how much he’s respected and admired.
Through his perseverance, Freeze is not just teaching his players to fight on the field, but also how to keep going when life gets tough. As he continues his battle, both on and off the field, his fans and players will be right there with him, cheering him on every step of the way.
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