Notre Dame Athletics issued a statement to the South Bend Tribune denying head coach Marcus Freeman was involved in a physical incident with an opposing high school wrestling coach during a tournament his son, Vinny, was competing in.
New Prairie High School assistant wrestling coach Chris Fleeger filed a police report this past week accusing the elder Freeman of battery following an alleged incident involving his son and Fleeger.
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” the statement reads. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone. We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are unfounded.”
The Mishawaka Police Department said it completed its investigation and sent a report on the situation to the St. Joseph’s County Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether the coach would face charges, though a Notre Dame source told ESPN that he isn’t expected to be charged on Sunday (January 11). The alleged incident occurred when Vinny Freeman lost his match and was escorted out of the gym by his father and his Penn High School coach Brad Harper, at which point Fleeger allegedly began to “exchange words” with the trio, according to the police report obtained by the South Bend Tribune.
Fleeger and Joanna Freeman were allegedly involved in a shouting match once in the hallway before local law enforcement intervened and Mishawaka school officials separated the two parties. Freeman joined Notre Dame as a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2021 and was promoted to full-time head coach following Brian Kelly‘s departure and speculation that he’d join him in the same role on his LSU coaching staff.
The 40-year-ld has had a winning record during each of his first four full seasons, going 43-12, which included a 14-2 finish in 2024, having made an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, and a 10-2 season in 2025.
Recent Comments