Grand Valley State offensive coordinator Morris Berger, who came under fire for his remarks about Adolph Hitler, resigned Thursday by saying he “mistakenly communicated something absurd.”

“There is no justifiable excuse - it was insensitive and not my intent,” he said in an open letter posted on Twitter.

The university sent out a press release and Berger followed with his open letter shortly thereafter to mark a sudden end to Berger’s employment with Grand Valley State. He had been named OC on Jan. 20.

Berger got into trouble for an interview he did with the Lanthorn, the university’s student newspaper. He cited Hitler when asked to name a historical figure he would like to have dinner with.

The remarks drew attention nationally.

"This is probably not going to get a good review, but I’m going to say Adolf Hitler," he said in the story that posted Jan. 23. "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."

He was suspended on Monday and the football program is now looking for another offensive coordinator/quarterback coach.

“Nothing in our background and reference checks revealed anything that would have suggested the unfortunate controversy that has unfolded," Lakers coach Matt Mitchell said in a statement. "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.”

In the university’s statement, Berger is quoted as saying he was disappointed he would not get to coach the Lakers, but added, "I do not want to be a distraction to these kids, this great university, or Coach Mitchell as they begin preparations for the upcoming season.”

Berger was more personal in his online post, saying, “I failed myself, my parents and this university.”

“The answer I attempted to give does not align with the values instilled in me by my parents, nor represent what I stand for or believe in," he said. "I mishandled the answer, and fell way short of the mark.”

Here's Berger's complete letter:

Berger did not respond to efforts for further comment.

A native of Nixa, Missouri, Berger was offensive quality control coach at Oklahoma State for two years (2017-2018) before spending 2019 at Texas State. He was dismissed after the season.

Grand Valley said it will investigate the role the athletic department played in the story. Shortly after it posted on the Lanthorn’s web site, it was removed upon request from someone within the athletic department, the newspaper’s editor said. The story was subsequently restored.

Within the hour after Berger’s resignation was announced, the university’s president, Philomena Mantella, posted a message of support to the Lanthorn staff: