College coach Morris Berger resigns over Adolf Hitler comments

A Division II college football coach is stepping down from his position in the wake of some controversial remarks he made during an interview last week.

Morris Berger, the offensive coordinator at Grand Valley State University, resigned on Thursday. The decision came after Berger was asked by a reporter from the Grand Valley Lanthorn — the school’s student-run newspaper — which three historical figures he would most want to have dinner with. Berger chose John F. Kennedy, Christopher Columbus and Adolph Hitler. He praised Hitler for the way he was able to lead.

“This is probably not going to get a good review, but I’m going to say Adolf Hitler,” Berger said. “It was obviously very sad and he had bad motives, but the way he was able to lead was second-to-none. How he rallied a group and a following, I want to know how he did that. Bad intentions of course, but you can’t deny he wasn’t a great leader.”

Berger, who had just been hired as Grand Valley’s offensive coordinator on Jan. 20, said in a statement Thursday that he does not want to become a distraction to the Lakers football program. He also tweeted an apology and said there is “no justifiable excuse” for what he said during the interview.

An Open Letter. pic.twitter.com/twMZDUEKex

— Morris Berger (@Coach_Berger) January 30, 2020

Berger was the tight ends coach at Texas State last season and was on the Oklahoma State and Missouri staffs before that. Grand Valley head coach Matt Mitchell said there was nothing in Berger’s background that raised a red flag for the school.

“Nothing in our background and reference checks revealed anything that would have suggested the unfortunate controversy that has unfolded,” Mitchell said, according to Kyle Bonagura of ESPN.com. “This has been a difficult time for everyone. I accepted Coach Berger’s resignation in an effort for him to move on and for us to focus on the team and our 2020 season.”

Regardless of Berger’s intentions, it’s understandable that his remarks about Hitler were met with great criticism. Mentioning the leader of the Holocaust in a positive light is never a good look.