Why Nashville school shooting made Georgia Tech football coach Brent Key cry at his news conference

Georgia Tech football coach Brent Key shared his emotions Wednesday on the Covenant School shooting.

He opened his scheduled press conference with a statement on the Nashville tragedy and called out for change. Key dove into his personal life, saying that his mother was a longtime school teacher and that his daughter is about about to be 5 years old.

And that's when his emotions poured out.

"It's the most heartbreaking thing in the world to think about your daughter," Key said, unable to hold back his tears, "going to school where she's supposed to be safe and protected. It's (expletive). It is."

Georgia Tech associate athletic director Mike Flynn shared the clip on social media and explained that he's comfortable sharing Key's words and is proud to call him a friend and colleague.

Nashville continues mourning the loss of the three faculty members and students lost in the Covenant School shooting on Monday. In response, hundreds of people gathered Thursday at the Tennessee State Capitol demanding gun reform.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville school shooting makes Georgia Tech football coach cry