Liberty coach Hugh Freeze will remain hospitalized for several days as doctors monitor his recovery from a surgery to fight a deadly strain of staph infection, according to ESPN.
Freeze, 49, was sidelined by a herniated disk in his back when doctors found the staph infection, potentially saving his life.
“The doctors told me if it had been another 24 hours, that strand of bacteria could have gotten to my heart and that I would have been fighting for my life,” Freeze said, per ESPN.
Jerry Falwell, Liberty’s president, reached out to neurosurgeon-turned-cabinet member Ben Carson for advice, which eventually led to Liberty sending for Arizona spinal surgeon Dr. Dilan Ellegala, who performed the operation.
“Right away, after they all consulted, they told me I had a lot more going on than just a disk when they saw how much pain I was in. I was crippled, I couldn’t stand up,” Freeze said.
“I’m blessed that I had so many brilliant medical minds coming together to help. I didn’t even know at the time how much trouble I was in.”
Freeze, who resigned under pressure from Ole Miss in July 2017, is in his first year at Liberty after his hiring in the offseason.
Freeze replaced Turner Gill, who announced his retirement after garnering 47 wins in seven seasons. The Flames went 6-6 last season in their transition to the FBS level.
Liberty opens its season Aug. 31 at home against Syracuse, and Freeze might be coaching from the booth instead of on the field.
“It all happened so fast. I was all excited for camp, and then all of a sudden, here I am in the hospital,” Freeze said. “The Liberty people have been incredible, and my staff has been incredible.”
