NOTRE DAME, Indiana – University of Notre Dame football coach Dick Corbett Brian Kelly announced the addition of Marcus Freeman to his coaching staff on Friday. Freeman will be Bob Hinton’s defensive coordinator and will work directly with the Irish defenders. Hiring will be effective at the end of the standard employment process of the University.
“While we were looking to find someone to lead our defense, it was important to find the right fit for our program and Marcus and his family are that,” Kelly said. “He has been very successful on the pitch, both in defense and in his direct work with his defenders. In addition, he is considered one of the elite recruiters in the coaching ranks.
“The work that Marcus has done to raise the programs of which he has been a part speaks for itself, but equally important is the exceptional work he has done in creating relationships with his staff and players. Marcus was our best choice to become our next defensive coordinator and we are excited for him and his family to join us at Notre Dame. ”
Freeman comes to South Bend from his former position as defensive coordinator and defense coach at the University of Cincinnati, a position he held since January 2017.
The Bearcats (9-1) made national noise in 2020-21, entering the bowling season as the country’s No. 8 team and winning the American Athletic Conference Championship, the program’s first total league title since 2009, when Kelly served as Cincinnati Head Coach. Cincinnati made an appearance at the Chik-Fil-A Peach Bowl, falling by a narrow margin to Georgia’s No. 9, after an unbeaten regular season.
The Cincinnati defense ranked in the Top 20 nationally in several categories during 2020-21, including ranking 13th in total defense (324.6 yards per game) and eighth in scoring defense (16.8 points per game). match) between all FBS teams. In addition, the Bearcats were third in efficiency defense going through teams (101.25), 14th in rushing defense (111.1 yards per game), 15th in red zone defense (0.735 rate), 17th in fourth low defense (0.375 rate), 16th in sacks team (3.0 per game) and 10th in turnover earned (21).
Bearcat’s outstanding corner, Ahmad Gardner, won several American teams, being named to the first teams of the FWAA and the US TODAY, in addition to the second teams of the Associated Press, AFCA and The Athletic. He was also named First Team All-AAC.
Prior to the 2020 success, Freeman was part of a UC team that coached the Bearcats for 11 consecutive seasons of 11 wins in 2018 and 2019, the Eastern Division Conference of the American Athletic Conference of 2019 and consecutive bowl victories at the 2018 Military Bowl and TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl 2019.
The Bearcats finished in first place in the 2019 AAC in scoring defense for the second straight season and ranked among the top three in the league in hasty and total defense. In 2018, Cincinnati led the American in rushing defense, goal defense and total defense and ranked among the top 15 NCAA FBS finishers in all three categories.
Prior to Cincinnati, Freeman spent four years at Purdue, where he coached the four-season defenders and served as Boilermakers ’co-defensive coordinator in 2015. He is credited with transforming the Purdue linebacker corps into a fortress. with multiple notable disciples, including: Bailey, 2016 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and Boilermaker defense leader with 97 attacks; Jimmy Herman, winner of the Murdey Guy “Red” Purdue Award and the Noble E. Kizer Award, to exemplify the overall success of the University’s intercollegiate athletics program and win the highest PGA among football players during the calendar year 2016; and Ja’Whaun Bentley, a freshman from U.S. Today in 2014 and elected captain by his teammates before the 2015 season.
Freeman coached Kent State defenders during 2011-12, where he guided inside defender Luke Batton to the All-Mid-American Conference second team honors in 2012 after finishing with 143 total attacks. , including 80 solo stops. External defender CJ Malauulu was the third selection team of all conferences in 2012, with 72 attacks in total.
Freeman began his career as an assistant graduate coach at his alma mater, Ohio, in 2010, as the Buckeyes won 12-1 with a Sugar Bowl victory.
A four-year winner for the Buckeyes from 2004-2008, Freeman earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2008, while helping drive Ohio State to four conference titles, three BCS bowls and two trips. to the national title during his career. He played in the 2009 Senior Bowl and was the pick of the fifth round of the NFL draft of the Chicago Bears, spending time with the Bears, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans before a medical condition ended his career.
Freeman, a 2007 graduate of Ohio State, earned academic honors to all seniors and academics to all districts. In 2011 he earned a master’s degree in sports management from Ohio State. He graduated from Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, and was an All-American Parade.
Freeman has a daughter, Bria, and he and his wife, Joanna, have six children: Vinny, Siena, Gino, Nico, Capri, and Rocco.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: January 10, 1986
Hometown: Huber Hts., Ohio
Wife: Joanna
Children: Bria, Vinny, Siena, Gino, Nico, Capri, Rocco
Training: Ohio State (2007, BS; 2011, MS)
Year in training: 10th
PLAYING IN THE RACE
2008-08: Ohio State (Linebacker)
2009: Chicago Bears (Linebacker); Buffalo Bills (Linebacker); Houston Texans (Linebacker)
COACHING CAREER
COURSE: SCHOOL – POSITION
2010: Ohio State – Postgraduate Assistant
2011-12: Kent State – Linebackers
2013-15: Purdue – Linebackers
2016: Purdue: co-defense coordinator / advocate
2017-: Cincinnati – Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
BOWLS TEACHED
COURSE: SCHOOL – BOWL
2010: Ohio State – Sugar
2012: Kent State – GoDaddy.com
2018: Cincinnati – Military
2019: Cincinnati – Birmingham
2020: Cincinnati – Peach
THE BALLS HAVE PLAYED
COURSE: SCHOOL – BOWL
2005: Ohio State – Fiesta
2006: Ohio State – BCS National Championship
2007: Ohio State – BCS National Championship
2008: Ohio State – Fiesta