Marcus Freeman
Marcus Freeman is an American college football coach serving as the head coach of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish since December 3, 2021.[1] Previously the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, Freeman rose through coaching ranks with stints at Cincinnati, Purdue, Kent State, and Ohio State, where he began as a graduate assistant in 2010.[2] A former standout linebacker at Ohio State from 2004 to 2008, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors in his senior year, Freeman briefly played in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans before transitioning to coaching due to a medical condition.[2][3] Under Freeman's leadership, Notre Dame has achieved a 38-12 record through the first eight games of the 2025 season, including a 5-2 bowl and playoff postseason mark.[4][5] His teams set a program record with 14 wins in the 2024 season, highlighted by 13 consecutive victories and seven triumphs over ranked opponents, culminating in a berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.[2] Freeman's defensive expertise, honed during his time as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator where he led the Bearcats to an AAC championship in 2020, has been pivotal in Notre Dame's resurgence, producing top-ranked units and earning him multiple national coach of the year awards, including the 2024 Dodd Trophy for on-field success and academic impact.[2][6] At age 35 upon appointment, he became Notre Dame's youngest head coach since the 1950s, defying initial skepticism about his readiness for the role.[7] Freeman holds a Bachelor of Science from Ohio State in 2007 and a master's degree in sports management from the same institution in 2011; he graduated from Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, as a Parade All-American.[2] Of biracial heritage—with an African American father from Columbus, Ohio, who served in the Air Force, and a Korean mother—Freeman emphasizes family values and player development in his coaching philosophy.[8] While facing typical scrutiny over in-game decisions, such as aggressive play-calling in lopsided games or defensive lapses against high-powered offenses, no major scandals have marred his tenure, with focus remaining on sustained competitive excellence amid Notre Dame's independent schedule demands.[9][10]Early life and education
Upbringing and family influences
Marcus Freeman was born on January 10, 1986, in San Diego, California, to Michael Freeman, an African American from Columbus, Ohio, and Chong Freeman, a Korean immigrant.[8][11] Michael's family had deep ties to Ohio State football; he grew up in Columbus and worked as an usher at Ohio Stadium during his youth.[12][13] The couple met while Michael was stationed in South Korea as a member of the United States Air Force, where he served for nearly three decades, instilling in Freeman a sense of discipline and adaptability shaped by frequent relocations typical of military life.[14][15] Freeman primarily grew up in Huber Heights, a suburb outside Dayton, Ohio, after the family settled there following his father's military service.[15] His biracial heritage influenced his early experiences, blending African American and Korean cultural elements; he participated in Taekwondo, a Korean martial art, to connect with his mother's background while engaging in American sports like football.[16][8] This diverse upbringing fostered resilience and a strong work ethic, values Freeman attributes to his parents' emphasis on perseverance amid challenges, including his father's Air Force career and his mother's adjustment to life in the United States.[17] The Freeman household prioritized family unity and education alongside athletics, with Michael's Ohio roots exposing young Marcus to Big Ten football culture from an early age.[12][18] These influences laid the groundwork for Freeman's competitive drive, as he later reflected on how his parents' sacrifices—such as Chong's immigration and Michael's service—modeled commitment and humility, core principles that guided his path in sports and coaching.[8]Academic and athletic preparation
Freeman attended Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, graduating in 2004, where he balanced rigorous athletic demands with the academic requirements necessary for college eligibility.[2] As a four-year starter on the football team, he primarily played linebacker and fullback, setting school records with a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 78-yard punt return during his career.[19] His senior-year performance included earning All-Greater Western Ohio Conference (GWOC) East First Team honors as a linebacker and recognition as a Dayton Daily News Division I and II All-Area selection, contributing to his recruitment as one of Ohio's top prospects.[19] These athletic accomplishments, including Parade All-American designation, positioned him for a scholarship offer from Ohio State University, where he enrolled in 2004 to pursue both football and a degree in sports and leisure studies.[2] Although specific high school GPA or standardized test scores are not publicly documented, Freeman's ability to maintain eligibility standards and later achieve Academic All-Big Ten and Academic All-District honors at Ohio State in 2007 demonstrates effective preparation in managing academic coursework amid intense training and competition.[2] This dual focus prepared him for the demands of Big Ten football, where he appeared in 11 games as a true freshman in 2004, recording 13 tackles.[20]Playing career
College career at Ohio State
Freeman enrolled at Ohio State University in 2004 after a standout high school career at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, where he was rated as a top linebacker recruit. As a true freshman that year, he saw limited action in 12 games, primarily on special teams, and recorded 4 total tackles.[21] In the 2005 season opener against Miami (OH), Freeman sustained a knee injury that sidelined him for the year, resulting in a medical redshirt and preservation of his eligibility.[22] He returned in 2006 as a junior, transitioning to a starting role at weak-side linebacker and appearing in all 13 games with 11 starts. That season, he posted 71 combined tackles (34 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and 2 interceptions for 5 yards.[23] Freeman's performance peaked in 2007, when he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media.[20] Starting all 13 games, he led the Buckeyes in tackles with 109 combined (66 solo—a Big Ten-high fourth place), added 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 5 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles.[23] As a senior in 2008, Freeman started every one of Ohio State's 13 games, contributing 84 combined tackles (39 solo), 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, and 1 fumble recovery.[23] Over his full playing career from 2004 to 2008 under head coach Jim Tressel, he accumulated 264 combined tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 9 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles across 39 games played (37 starts), establishing himself as a reliable defensive leader for the Buckeyes.[23][24]Professional career and transition to coaching
Freeman was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round, 154th overall, of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.[25][23] He appeared in all four Bears preseason games that year, recording limited statistics including two tackles.[26] The Bears waived him on September 5, 2009, prior to the regular season.[2] Freeman then briefly joined the practice squads of the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans during the 2009 season but did not play in any regular-season games, ending his professional playing career without recording official NFL statistics.[27] After his release, Freeman transitioned directly to coaching, accepting a graduate assistant position at his alma mater, Ohio State, in 2010 under head coach Jim Tressel.[5] This role marked the start of his coaching career, where he focused on defensive responsibilities while pursuing a master's degree in sports management.[28] His move to coaching followed a deliberate decision to forgo further pursuit of professional playing opportunities, influenced by his academic background and desire to remain involved in football at the collegiate level.[29]Coaching career
Assistant coaching positions
Freeman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio State University in 2010, contributing to a team that finished 12-1 and secured a victory in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas.[2][30] From 2011 to 2012, he served as linebackers coach at Kent State University, where he focused on developing the position group during the Golden Flashes' transition in the Mid-American Conference.[2][31] Freeman joined Purdue University in 2013 as linebackers coach, a role he held through 2015 while helping to rebuild a defense amid the Boilermakers' struggles in the Big Ten, with the team recording only three conference wins over those three seasons.[2][32] In 2016, he added co-defensive coordinator duties at Purdue, overseeing a unit that contributed to a 2-10 overall record but showed improvement in linebacker production, as evidenced by players like Ja'Whaun Bentley earning All-Big Ten honors under his guidance.[2][31]Defensive coordinator roles
Freeman was appointed defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Cincinnati in January 2017 under head coach Luke Fickell.[31] Inheriting a unit that ranked in the bottom third nationally prior to his arrival, Freeman overhauled the scheme to emphasize aggressive play and physicality, leading to progressive improvements over four seasons.[33] The 2018 Bearcats defense topped the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in rushing defense (allowing 96.3 yards per game), scoring defense (13.5 points per game), and total defense (302.2 yards per game), while ranking 12th, 13th, and 14th nationally in those categories, respectively.[31] By 2020, Cincinnati's defense led the AAC in total yards allowed (302.2 per game), rushing yards (96.3 per game), and scoring (11.7 points per game), contributing to an undefeated regular season and a Peach Bowl appearance.[34] Freeman's efforts earned him the 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year award and a finalist nod for the Broyles Award, recognizing the nation's top assistant coach.[33][35] Freeman joined Notre Dame as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in January 2021, hired by head coach Brian Kelly to install a versatile, deception-oriented scheme focused on multiple fronts and pressures.[2][36] The Fighting Irish defense ranked 27th nationally in scoring defense (21.3 points allowed per game) and 45th in total defense (357.4 yards allowed per game) during the regular season, while finishing seventh in the FBS with four defensive touchdowns.[37][2] These performances supported an 11-1 regular-season record and Notre Dame's berth in the Fiesta Bowl, where Freeman served as interim head coach following Kelly's departure to LSU on November 30, 2021.[38] His rapid implementation of the system and success in player development positioned him for promotion to full-time head coach on December 6, 2021.[2]Head coach at Notre Dame
Marcus Freeman was named the 30th head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team on December 3, 2021, succeeding Brian Kelly who departed for Louisiana State University. At age 35, Freeman transitioned from defensive coordinator—a role he assumed in 2021—to the head position, initially serving as interim coach for the final three games of the 2021 season following Kelly's exit on November 30. Under his interim leadership, Notre Dame defeated Navy in the regular season finale but lost to Stanford before securing a 21-14 victory over Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2022, finishing the year 11-2 overall. This performance contributed to his permanent appointment, marking a rapid elevation for the former Ohio State linebacker with prior assistant coaching experience at multiple programs.[1][39] Freeman's tenure has yielded a 38-12 overall record through eight games of the 2025 season, achieving a .760 winning percentage and a 5-2 bowl game mark. His teams have demonstrated consistent competitiveness, including a program-record 14 wins in 2024, which propelled Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff national championship game, where they fell 34-23 to Ohio State. Freeman earned the 2024 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award for guiding the Irish to victories over seven ranked opponents that season, including No. 2 Georgia in the semifinals. Against top-25 opponents, his record stands at 21-5, underscoring defensive prowess and resilience in high-stakes matchups.[4][2][40]| Season | Record | Bowl Game Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 (interim) | 2-1 | Fiesta Bowl (W, 21-14 vs. Oklahoma State)[4] |
| 2022 | 9-4 | Gator Bowl (W, 19-14 vs. South Carolina)[41] |
| 2023 | 10-3 | Sun Bowl (W, 40-8 vs. Oregon State)[2] |
| 2024 | 14-2 | CFP National Championship (L, 34-23 vs. Ohio State)[42] |
| 2025* | 5-2 | — |