Marcus Freeman

Marcus Freeman took over the Notre Dame coaching job after Brian Kelly left for LSU after the 2021 regular season. Freeman got off to a slow start but has become one of the most successful young coaches in college football. In 2024, he led the Irish to the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Marcus Freeman Coaching Record

Marcus Freeman Coaching History

• 2010: Ohio State — Graduate assistant
• 2011-2012: Kent State — Linebackers
• 2013-2015: Purdue — Linebackers
• 2016: Purdue — Co-Defensive coordinator/Linebackers
• 2017-2020: Cincinnati — Defensive coordinator/Linebackers
• 2021: Notre Dame — Defensive coordinator/Linebackers
• 2021-present: Notre Dame — Head coach

Marcus Freeman Coaching Bio

Marcus Freeman became a rising star in the coaching profession by getting Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff championship game in 2024. But it was that long ago when it was anyone’s guess if he would make it past his first full season with the Irish.

The former defensive coordinator took over on an interim basis following the departure of Brian Kelly to LSU in December 2021 and immediately lost his first game, to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl. Then after getting the full-time job his team began the 2022 season with losses to Ohio State and Marshall, making him the first coach in Notre Dame history to start his career with 3 straight defeats.

The Irish recovered from that ominous start by winning 9 of their final 11 games, including an upset of No. 5 Clemson and a Gator Bowl win against South Carolina. And Freeman’s career has taken off from there.

His success is hardly a surprise.

Freeman showed a propensity for leadership as a standout athlete in high school and at Ohio State, where he was a second-team All-Big Ten linebacker who finished his career with 268 tackles in 51 games for the Buckeyes.

After beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2010, he rose quickly up the ranks as a linebackers coach before graduating to a coordinator role at Purdue in 2016. From there, he joined Luke Fickell at Cincinnati, where he built a defense that led the American Athletic Conference and ranked among the top 15 nationally in rushing, scoring and total defense.

In 2020, he was named a finalist for the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in college football.

Freeman’s football acumen is only part of the reason Notre Dame officials gave him the job despite being only 36 years old with no head coaching experience. And why he was such a popular choice among his players when the job unexpectedly came open. 

Despite being a fiery competitor, the calm, and professionalism with which he has handled the task of leading the nation’s highest-profile program has won him universal praise. His chill on the sideline, even in the most pressure-packed situations, is the 180-degree opposite of his predecessor Kelly. 

He’s young. He’s photogenic. He’s humble. And he exudes love for his players and his program’s rich, unmatched tradition. 

A tradition he’s well on his way toward continuing.

FAQ About Marcus Freeman

What is Marcus Freeman's Salary?

Freeman earned $6,687,754 in 2024, according to a database of college coaches salaries compiled by USA Today. His compensation was raised to a reported $9 million plus incentives after leading Notre Dame to the CFB Playoff championship game.

What is the Length of Marcus Freeman's Contract?

Freeman signed a 3-year extension the week before Notre Dame’s opening-round Playoff victory against Indiana in December 2024 that will keep him under contract with the Irish through the 2030 season.

What is Marcus Freeman's Buyout?

The buyout in Freeman’s original contract, signed in December 2021, is reported to have included a $4 million buyout. While all the terms of his extension have not been disclosed, it is believed that his new buyout is significantly higher.

Where is Marcus Freeman's Mother From?

Freeman’s mother, Chong, is from South Korea. She met her husband Michael Freeman while he was serving in the Air Force. They moved to Dayton, Ohio, where Marcus was born at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, in 1976.

Is Marcus Freeman Catholic?

Freeman converted to Catholicism in 2022. According to an announcement by his home parish, St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Indiana, Freeman was “received into the Catholic Church after preparing with Father Nate Wills, C.S.C., chaplain of the Notre Dame football team.” Freeman was “raised in both the Christian and Korean church traditions.” His wife Joanna and their 6 children are all practicing Catholics.