Football coach who picks Hitler as dream dinner guest suspended, Michigan college says
A newly hired college football coach in Michigan told a school newspaper that his dream dinner guest is Adolf Hitler, who he called “a great leader.”
He was suspended, media outlets report.
Morris Berger was hired as offensive coordinator at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, the school announced last week.
The Nixa, Missouri native joined the staff after coaching last season at Texas State University. He also coached at Oklahoma State University and spent three seasons at the University of Missouri.
In an interview with the school newspaper the Lanthorn, a sports editor asked Berger to choose any three historical figures to have dinner with.
The sports editor asked the question in part because Berger earned a history degree from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.
Berger first named Hitler, according to the Lanthorn.
“This is probably not going to get a good review, but I’m going to say Adolf Hitler,” Berger told the newspaper. “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.”
“The way he was able to get people to rally around him was crazy,” the sports editor responded.
“Yeah, that’s definitely one,” Berger said, before naming President John F. Kennedy and Christopher Columbus as his two other dinner guests.
A Grand Valley State University spokesperson said Berger is suspended during an investigation, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The university said in a statement that Berger’s comments don’t reflect the values of the university, WZZM reported.
In introducing the new offensive coordinator to last week, head football coach Matt Mitchell said he was impressed with Berger.
“We are excited to welcome Morris to our staff,” Mitchell said. “He has worked with some outstanding offensive units throughout his career and during the interview process we were impressed with his philosophy, teaching techniques and ability to produce an explosive offense.”