Marcus Freeman

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For the American football tight end, see Marcus Freeman (tight end).
Marcus Freeman
Freeman in 2022
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamNotre Dame
ConferenceIndependent
Record19–8
Biographical details
Born (1986-01-10) January 10, 1986 (age 38)
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
2004–2008Ohio State
2009Chicago Bears
2009Buffalo Bills
2009Houston Texans
Position(s)Linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2010Ohio State (GA)
2011–2012Kent State (LB)
2013–2015Purdue (LB)
2016Purdue (co-DC/LB)
2017–2020Cincinnati (DC/LB)
2021Notre Dame (DC/LB)
2021–presentNotre Dame
Head coaching record
Overall19–8 (.704)
Bowls2–1 (.667)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
As coach
  • 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year (2020)
As player

Marcus Freeman (born January 10, 1986) is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He previously served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Notre Dame in 2021. Freeman has also previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati, Purdue University, Kent State University, and Ohio State University.

Freeman played college football at Ohio State and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans.

Early years[edit]

His father Michael Freeman met his mother Chong while he was serving in the Air Force in South Korea. Marcus was born at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center in Fairborn, Ohio.[1][2] He has an older brother, Michael Jr.[3] The family lived in Huber Heights and Marcus attended Wayne High School.[3]

Freeman was rated as one of the top three overall prospects in Ohio as a senior and named to the Parade All-America team coming out of Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio. He was credited with 127 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a senior. He totaled 152 tackles, including 29 behind the line of scrimmage, and eight sacks as a junior. Freeman was a four-year starter and a two-time first-team All-Ohio selection. He also ran track, competing in the 4×100-meter relay and throwing the shot and discus.

Playing career[edit]

College[edit]

Marcus Freeman attended Ohio State University (2004–08), appearing in 51 games (37 starts) over the course of his career. He started 26 games at weak-side linebacker and 11 games at strong-side linebacker and was a two-time Second-team All-Big Ten selection. He finished his career 19th on the school's all-time tackle list with 268 stops (140 solo) and was credited with 21.5 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, 15 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

In 2008, he started all 13 games at linebacker. He was a Second-team All-Big Ten selection, finishing with 84 tackles (39 solo) and added 9.5 TFLs, 4 PBUs, 1 fumble recovery and 3.5 sacks. Also named Academic All-Big Ten. In 2007, he was a second-year starting linebacker and a part of three special units and was Second-team All-Big Ten after he totaled 109 tackles 9.5 TFL, 5 PBU. In 2006, he made 71 stops, played 13 games and started 11 at linebacker and was second on the team with six pass break-ups and two interceptions. In 2005, he redshirted. In 2004, he finished his rookie season with four tackles, recording one solo stop and three assists, in 13 games.

National Football League[edit]

Pre-draft[edit]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1 in
(1.85 m) 		239 lb
(108 kg) 		32 in
(0.81 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.74 s 1.64 s 2.77 s 4.12 s 6.98 s 37 in
(0.94 m)		 9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)		 30 reps
Arm and hand spans from Pro Day, all other values from NFL Combine.[4]

Chicago Bears[edit]

Freeman was drafted in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.[5] He was waived on September 4, 2009.

Buffalo Bills[edit]

Freeman was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad on September 22. He later was released in early October.

Houston Texans[edit]

Freeman signed with the Houston Texans on November 4.

Retirement[edit]

On May 1, 2010, Freeman retired due to an enlarged heart condition.

Coaching career[edit]

Early career[edit]

After serving as a Graduate Assistant at his alma mater in 2010, he was the linebackers and assistant coach for Kent State in 2011–12.[6][7]

He was hired as the Purdue linebackers coach in January 2013. For the 2016 season, Freeman was promoted to co-defensive coordinator. Freeman helped transform the linebackers group into a strength for the Boilermakers, coaching future NFL players Danny Ezechukwu and Ja'Whaun Bentley.[8]

Cincinnati (assistant)[edit]

On December 13, 2016, Freeman joined the Cincinnati Bearcats football staff as defensive coordinator and linebacker coach.[9] After being one of the first hires by Luke Fickell, Freeman transformed the Bearcats into one of the best defenses of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). In 2018, Freeman's defense led the AAC in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense and ranked among the Top-15 in the NCAA FBS in all three categories. The next season, the Bearcats finished atop the 2019 AAC ranks in scoring defense for the second-straight season and ranked among the league's top three in rushing and total defense.[10]

Prior to the end of the 2020 season, Freeman had declined a handful of positions to remain at Cincinnati including offers of returning to Ohio State as linebackers coach,[11] linebackers coach for the Tennessee Titans,[12] and defensive coordinator at Michigan State,[13] among other offers. Freeman had been considered by a number of national outlets as one of the rising stars of the college coaching ranks.[14]

Freeman was a finalist for the Broyles Award and named the 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year, during the 2020 season.[15][16]

Notre Dame[edit]

On January 8, 2021, Freeman was hired as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Notre Dame. Freeman was head coach Brian Kelly's top choice for the position.[17][18] Prior to this hiring, it was rumored that Freeman would join LSU in the same role.[19]

Following the 2021 regular season, Brian Kelly left Notre Dame to become the head coach at Louisiana State University.[20] On December 3, 2021, Freeman was selected to replace him, becoming the 32nd head coach in program history.[21] Freeman took control immediately, coaching the Irish in their Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State.

Freeman opened the 2022 season with losses to Ohio State and Marshall, thus becoming first head coach in Notre Dame history to start his career with three losses. [22] He gained his first win the following week against the Golden Bears. Freeman's Irish would go on to finish the regular season ranked 19th with a record of 8-4, including a win over No. 5 Clemson. They were awarded a berth in the Gator Bowl where they defeated South Carolina 45–38.

Personal life[edit]

Freeman's mother, Chong Freeman, is from South Korea,[23] and met his father, Michael Freeman, while serving in the US Air Force and then moved to Ohio in 1976.[24][25] In 2010, Freeman married Joanna (née Herncane),[6] who he had dated since college. The couple has six children: Vinny, Siena, Gino, Nico, Capri and Rocco.[26][27] Freeman also has a daughter, Bria. In 2022, Freeman became a Catholic.[28]

Head coaching record[edit]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA Division I FBS independent) (2021–present)
2021 Notre Dame 0–1[n 1] L Fiesta† 9 8
2022 Notre Dame 9–4 W Gator 18 18
2023 Notre Dame 10–3 W Sun 14 14
Notre Dame: 19–8
Total: 19–8
  1. ^ Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly resigned to become the head coach at LSU, having coached all of the regular-season. Freeman coached the 2022 Fiesta Bowl in Kelly’s place.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Picture Perfect". Ohio State Buckeyes. 2006-09-02. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  2. ^ Brice, John. "Marcus Freeman: 'The Gold Standard' Notre Dame assistant driven for success". Footballscoop. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  3. ^ a b "Video: Football Camp Spotlight on Marcus Freeman". Ohio State Buckeyes. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  4. ^ "Marcus Freeman, DS #8 OLB, Ohio State". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "2009 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  6. ^ a b "Marcus Freeman". Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  7. ^ Doug Lesmerises (December 21, 2010). "Assistant coach Marcus Freeman follows Darrell Hazell to Kent State: Ohio State Buckeyes Insider". www.cleveland.com. Advance Ohio. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  8. ^ "Marcus Freeman". purduesports.com. Retrieved 27 Aug 2020.
  9. ^ Steven Petrella (December 13, 2016). "Purdue coach, ex-Ohio State LB Marcus Freeman announces he'll join Luke Fickell's Cincinnati staff". www.landof10.com. Cox Media Group. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  10. ^ "Marcus Freeman". gobearcats.com. Retrieved 27 Aug 2020.
  11. ^ Murphy, Patrick (11 Jan 2019). "Report: Marcus Freeman was offered Buckeye linebacker job". 247sports.com. Retrieved 26 Aug 2020.
  12. ^ Froyd, Crissy (4 Feb 2020). "UC Bearcats DC Marcus Freeman reportedly turned down offer from Titans". USA Today. Retrieved 26 Aug 2020.
  13. ^ Whitaker, Michael (16 Feb 2020). "CINCINNATI DC MARCUS FREEMAN REJECTS "SIGNIFICANT ATTEMPT" BY MICHIGAN STATE TO HIRE HIM". detroitsportsnation.com. Retrieved 26 Aug 2020.
  14. ^ Feldman, Bruce (25 Aug 2020). "Feldman: 15 college football coordinators to watch this fall". theathletic.com. The Athletic. Retrieved 26 Aug 2020.
  15. ^ Khan Jr, Sam (28 Dec 2020). "Alabama Crimson Tide OC Steve Sarkisian wins Broyles Award". ESPN. Retrieved 28 Dec 2020.
  16. ^ Marcello, Brandon (29 Dec 2020). "Marcus Freeman is 247Sports' Defensive Coordinator of the Year". 247sports.com. 247Sports. Retrieved 29 Dec 2020.
  17. ^ "Notre Dame hires defensive coordinator, Cincinnati's Marcus Freeman". Inside the Irish | NBC Sports. 2021-01-08. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  18. ^ Khan, Sam Jr. (8 Jan 2021). "Marcus Freeman to Join Notre Dame as Bob Hinton Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach". und.com. Retrieved 8 Jan 2021.
  19. ^ Vowles, Joshua (2021-01-08). "LSU likely to sign top Notre Dame DC candidate, Marcus Freeman". One Foot Down. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  20. ^ Dinich, Heather (December 3, 2021). "Notre Dame Fighting Irish elevate defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to head football coach". ESPN. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  21. ^ Jeyarajah, Shehan (December 2, 2021). "Notre Dame hires Marcus Freeman as next coach: Irish listen to players, also retain Tommy Rees to lead offense". CBS Sports.
  22. ^ "Now 0-3, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman must dig himself out of the worst start in program history". 10 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman visits White House". Fighting Irish Wire. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  24. ^ Berardino, Mike. "'That could be my mom:' Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman troubled by violence against Asians". Notre Dame Insider. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman attends state dinner". WSBT. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  26. ^ "Who is Marcus Freeman's wife, Joanna? Family of the Notre Dame coach". The Focus. 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  27. ^ "Marcus Freeman". Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. 2021-01-08. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  28. ^ "Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time", St. Pius Bulletin, Granger, Indiana: St. Pius X Catholic Church, p. 9, September 11, 2022, archived from the original on 14 September 2022, Fr. Bill recently concelebrated in a Mass where Marcus Freeman was received into the Catholic Church. After preparing with Fr. Nate Wills, C.S.C., chaplain of the Notre Dame football team, Marcus made a profession of faith, was confirmed, and received his First Holy Communion.

External links[edit]

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