The allegations against former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze keep piling up. And now they're coming from all directions, including from former students at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, where Freeze was a basketball and football coach — along with other non-athletic positions — before rising the college football ranks.
Multiple former Briarcrest students told USA Today of misconduct and unusual behavior from Freeze nearly two decade ago.
One unidentified former student said she and some football players faced discipline for arriving late to lunch. Male students were typically hit on the butt with a paddle as punishment. When she asked if she could be paddled instead of detention, he surprisingly "obliged" and insisted on conducting the paddling himself instead of getting a female teacher.
“(Freeze) did some bizarre warm-up taunt before actually making contact,’’ said the woman. “I was humiliated that he didn't have a female in the room. I don't know if the acts were intentionally sexual or if he was really that oblivious to the inherently sexual nature of his approach to discipline.’’
Freeze, who left Briarcrest in 2005 and joined the Arkansas State football staff a year later, denies the accusation, along with others you can find here.
"These accusations are totally false," he said in a statement to USA Today. "I can unequivocally say that during my time at Briarcrest Christian School I handled disciplinary issues professionally and in accordance with the school's policy. I am very confident that the members of the administration who worked hand in hand with me during my tenure will verify that."
Briarcrest released a statement saying they "would take any such allegations very seriously and would investigate fully."
