Marcus Freeman at his introduction press conference for Notre Dame
Notre Dame Football lands new head coach
December 7, 2021
Marcus Freeman has been named the 30th Head Football Coach at the University of Notre Dame. Freeman will be introduced on Monday, December 6 at a press conference and will coach the Irish in their upcoming bowl game against Oklahoma State.
“It is an honor to be named the head coach of Notre Dame Football,” said Freeman. “I am forever grateful for this opportunity to lead this football program. I’m ready. I’m ready for this challenge, and I’m ready to lead this program to the greatest heights. The chance to lead the football program at the University of Notre Dame is an opportunity of a lifetime, and I would never take that for granted.”
In Freeman’s first season with Notre Dame, he created a very successful defense that includes a number of Top-20 national rankings. Irish rank sixth nationally in interceptions and defensive touchdowns. It is safe to say that Freeman knows how to manage a football team.
Prior to coming to the middle eastern part of the US, Freeman spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, where he was named the 2020 247Sports.com Defensive Coordinator of the Year. The Bearcats defense ranked in the Top-20 nationally in several categories for 2020-21, including being ranked 13th in total defense.
During a Dan Patrick Show appearance, former Cincinnati Bearcats defensive coordinator and assistant Marcus Freeman told Patrick that he could not root against Cincinnati on Saturday in the ACC title game against Houston.
“You know, those are kids that I helped recruit. I couldn’t do it. Those are kids that you love. Those are kids you recruit. Those are kids you grow with.”
Freeman is a very thoughtful person who cares deeper than just football. He talks about how he cares about the well-being of his players, faculty and staff.
“That’s why doing it at the University of Notre Dame is so special. It’s special because of the people. The people here make this opportunity special… being the leader of this program is about understanding that to be successful on this journey, it’s going to take others, and we’re going to have to do this as a team.”