CHICAGO — Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) heavily touted his background as a teacher, football coach, and former member of the U.S. Army National Guard during his prime-time speech Wednesday night to accept the Democratic vice presidential nomination.

Walz, who was a high school football coach, made multiple references and puns to the sport throughout his speech and was frequently met with “Coach Walz” chants. Delegates on the convention floor waved “Coach Walz” signs, and his former players, wearing their jerseys, also took the stage.

“Look, I coached high school football long enough to know, trust me on this, when somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re going to use it,” Walz said, referring to Project 2025, an agenda created by the conservative organization Heritage Foundation.

But he also emphasized his family during his speech, recounting his and his wife’s struggles with infertility and calling his family his “entire world.”

“It took Gwen and I years, but we had access to fertility treatments, and when our daughter was born, we named her Hope. Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my entire world, and I love you,” Walz said.

Walz’s son Gus could be seen crying and yelling, “That’s my dad,” during his father’s remarks.

Walz has been embroiled in controversy in recent days after his wife, Gwen, released a statement detailing their use of intrauterine insemination. Walz had said in March that he and his wife used a procedure known as in vitro fertilization when they were struggling to have children.