Marcus Freeman

Marcus Freeman
Name	Marcus Freeman
Caption	Marcus Freeman, 2023
Birth date	8 January 1986
Birth place	Columbus, Ohio, US
Alma mater	Ohio State University; Ohio University
Occupation	American football coach; former linebacker
Years active	2008–present
Spouse	Daniella Freeman

Marcus Freeman (born January 8, 1986) is an American football coach and former collegiate linebacker who is the head coach at the Notre Dame football program. He rose through the coaching ranks after a playing career at Ohio State University and brief professional stints, gaining national attention as a defensive play-caller and recruiter at programs including Purdue University, the Cincinnati Bearcats, and Ohio State University before his promotion to head coach at Notre Dame.

Early life and education

Freeman was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended Lincoln High School, where he played high school football and earned recognition that led to a scholarship at Ohio State University. At Ohio State he majored in sports administration while competing for the Buckeyes under head coach Jim Tressel and later Urban Meyer. He later completed a master's degree in health and sports performance at Ohio University while beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant, studying defensive systems, conditioning, and recruiting techniques that were prevalent across the Big Ten Conference and NCAA Division I FBS programs.

Playing career

Freeman was a standout linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2004 to 2007, playing alongside teammates such as A. J. Hawk and James Laurinaitis. He earned playing time at multiple linebacker positions in schemes employed by defensive coordinators including Mark Dantonio influences and contributed on special teams during seasons that featured matchups against rivals like Michigan and bowl games such as the Fiesta Bowl and BCS National Championship Game. After college he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears of the NFL and spent time with the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets organizations before transitioning to coaching; his professional playing stops included practice squad assignments and offseason roster participation common to players pursuing long-term coaching careers.

Coaching career

Freeman began his coaching trajectory as a graduate assistant at Ohio University and later joined the staff at Wheaton College and Ball State University in early positional roles. He became the linebackers coach at Purdue University under head coach Danny Hope and later earned a place on the staff at Cincinnati under Luke Fickell, where he coached within the American Athletic Conference and helped mentor future NFL players. Freeman returned to his alma mater as a coach under Urban Meyer and later Ryan Day at Ohio State University, contributing to recruiting in the Big Ten Conference and game-planning for matchups versus teams like the Michigan Wolverines and Penn State Nittany Lions. In 2020 he joined Notre Dame as defensive coordinator under head coach Brian Kelly, becoming prominent for in-game adjustments and player development during seasons that included intersections with the Atlantic Coast Conference and bowl appearances.

Head coaching at Notre Dame

Following Brian Kelly's departure to the Louisiana program, Freeman was appointed head coach at the University of Notre Dame in late 2021, becoming one of the youngest head coaches in NCAA Division I FBS history. His early tenure involved managing high-profile matchups against opponents such as the USC Trojans, Clemson, and Stanford, overseeing recruitment pipelines in regions including Ohio, Texas, and California, and navigating national media attention from outlets covering the College Football Playoff landscape. Freeman's teams have emphasized defensive identity while adapting to roster turnover, transfer portal dynamics and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) developments that have shaped contemporary college football. During his head coaching period, Notre Dame competed for rankings in the Associated Press polls and faced postseason opportunities including bowl games and aspirations toward the College Football Playoff.

Coaching style and philosophy

Freeman's coaching philosophy blends aggressive defensive scheming with a modern approach to player relationships and recruiting. He is known for employing multiple fronts and hybrid linebacker usage influenced by coaches from the Big Ten Conference and American Athletic Conference, emphasizing speed, tackling fundamentals, and coverage versatility against opponents from conferences such as the Atlantic Coast Conference and Pac-12 Conference. His staff-building has included hires with backgrounds in the NFL and prominent collegiate programs, and he prioritizes converting high school recruits from pipelines like St. Edward and DeSoto High School into collegiate contributors. Freeman also navigates contemporary aspects of college athletics, including NIL strategy, the transfer portal, and academic support structures tied to institutions such as Notre Dame.

Personal life

Freeman is married to Daniella Freeman; the couple has one child and resides in South Bend, Indiana. He is active in community and alumni events associated with Ohio State University and Notre Dame, participates in youth football clinics, and has spoken at fundraisers and charitable events connected to organizations in Columbus, Ohio and St. Joseph County, Indiana. He maintains relationships with former teammates and coaches from programs including the Ohio State Buckeyes and seasons highlighted by marquee games such as contests with the Michigan program.

Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coaches Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football players Category:People from Columbus, Ohio