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Marcus Freeman

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For the American football tight end, see Marcus Freeman (tight end).
Marcus Freeman
Color photograph of Marcus Freeman in June 2022
Coach Freeman in June 2022
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Position:Head coach
Personal information
Born: (1986-01-10) January 10, 1986 (age 38)
Dayton, Ohio
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:Wayne (OH)
College:Ohio State
NFL draft:2009 / round: 5 / pick: 154
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Ohio State (2010)
    Graduate assistant
  • Kent State (2011–2012)
    Linebackers coach
  • Purdue (2013–2015)
    Linebackers coach
  • Purdue (2016)
    Co-defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
  • Cincinnati (2017–2020)
    Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
  • Notre Dame (2021)
    Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
  • Notre Dame (2021–present)
    Head coach
Career highlights and awards
As player
  • 2× Second Team All-Big Ten (2007, 2008)
As coach
  • 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year (2020)
Head coaching record
Career:NCAA: 0–3 (.000)
Bowls: 0–1 (.000)

Marcus Freeman (born January 10, 1986) is an American football coach and former linebacker who is currently the head coach at the University of Notre Dame. 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

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

College

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

Pre-draft

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

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

Buffalo Bills

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

Houston Texans

Freeman signed with the Houston Texans on November 4.

Retirement

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

Coaching career

Early career

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.[5][6]

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.[7]

Cincinnati (Assistant)

On December 13, 2016, Freeman joined the Cincinnati Bearcats football staff.[8] 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.[9]

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,[10] linebackers coach for the Tennessee Titans,[11] and defensive coordinator at Michigan State,[12] among other offers. Freeman had been considered by a number of national outlets as one of the rising stars of the college coaching ranks.[13]

Freeman was a finalist for the Broyles Award and named the 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year, during the 2020 season.[14][15]

Notre Dame

On January 8, 2021, Freeman was hired as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Notre Dame. Freeman was Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly's top choice for the position.[16][17] This was announced after reports that he would join LSU as their defensive coordinator.[18]

On December 3, 2021, Freeman was promoted to become the 30th head coach at the University of Notre Dame,[19] replacing Brian Kelly, who had departed to become the head coach at Louisiana State University.[20] Freeman is the second African-American to lead the Irish, the first being Tyrone Willingham.[citation needed] He's the first Head Coach in Notre Dame history to start his career at 0-3.[citation needed]

Personal life

Freeman married his wife, Joanna (née Herncane),[5] in 2010, whom he dated since college. The couple has six children: Vinny, Siena, Gino, Nico, Capri and Rocco.[21][22]

Head coaching record

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 0–2
Notre Dame: 0–3 (.000)
Total: 0–3 (.000)
  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

  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. ^ a b "Marcus Freeman". Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Marcus Freeman". purduesports.com. Retrieved 27 Aug 2020.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Marcus Freeman". gobearcats.com. Retrieved 27 Aug 2020.
  10. ^ Murphy, Patrick (11 Jan 2019). "Report: Marcus Freeman was offered Buckeye linebacker job". 247sports.com. Retrieved 26 Aug 2020.
  11. ^ Froyd, Crissy (4 Feb 2020). "UC Bearcats DC Marcus Freeman reportedly turned down offer from Titans". USA Today. USA Today. Retrieved 26 Aug 2020.
  12. ^ Whitaker, Michael (16 Feb 2020). "CINCINNATI DC MARCUS FREEMAN REJECTS "SIGNIFICANT ATTEMPT" BY MICHIGAN STATE TO HIRE HIM". detroitsportsnation.com. Retrieved 26 Aug 2020.
  13. ^ Feldman, Bruce (25 Aug 2020). "Feldman: 15 college football coordinators to watch this fall". theathletic.com. The Athletic. Retrieved 26 Aug 2020.
  14. ^ Khan Jr, Sam (28 Dec 2020). "Alabama Crimson Tide OC Steve Sarkisian wins Broyles Award". ESPN. Retrieved 28 Dec 2020.
  15. ^ Marcello, Brandon (29 Dec 2020). "Marcus Freeman is 247Sports' Defensive Coordinator of the Year". 247sports.com. 247Sports. Retrieved 29 Dec 2020.
  16. ^ "Notre Dame hires defensive coordinator, Cincinnati's Marcus Freeman". Inside the Irish | NBC Sports. 2021-01-08. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Vowles, Joshua (2021-01-08). "LSU likely to sign top Notre Dame DC candidate, Marcus Freeman". One Foot Down. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  19. ^ 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.
  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. ^ "Who is Marcus Freeman's wife, Joanna? Family of the Notre Dame coach". The Focus. 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  22. ^ "Marcus Freeman". Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. 2021-01-08. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
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