FACT CHECK: Post Makes False Claims About Tim Walz’s Coaching Record
Verdict: False
Walz was arrested prior to becoming a football coach. Walz was never fired from his coaching job and did help coach varsity, leaving in 2006 in order to run for Congress.
Fact Check:
Social media users are claiming that Walz never coached varsity, instead was the ninth grade coach and was fired when he was arrested for drunk driving.
“Walz said he was the coach when they won the state championship. Actually he was the ninth grade coach but was fired when arrested for drunk driving,” the post claims.
This claim is false. First, Walz was arrested for drunk driving in 1995, according to The Associated Press. He was a high school teacher, he was fined $200 and lost his license for 90 days after pleading guilty to a charge of reckless driving, the outlet reported.
Walz became a football coach in 1996 at Mankato West High School, becoming the defensive coordinator for its football team, according to the Athletic. There he helped coach the team to a Class 4A state championship in 1999, when they beat Cambridge-Isanti, 35-28.
Walz left both teaching and coaching behind when he ran for Congress in 2006, according to The Dispatch Fact Check. (RELATED: Does This Image Show The Suspect In The Recent Georgia Shooting?)
This is not the first time misinformation has circulated online. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim images from the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump were created with artificial intelligence.
