Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman was accused of battery by a high school wrestling coach stemming from an incident at a recent tournament in Indiana in which Freeman’s son was competing. The university has denied that the head coach engaged in physical contact in the incident.
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” Notre Dame’s athletics department said in a statement to multiple outlets. “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 incident in question took place during a wrestling meet at Mishawaka High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, on Jan. 3. The altercation was first reported by the South Bend Tribune.
Chris Fleeger, an assistant wrestling coach at New Prairie High School located in New Carlisle, Indiana, accused Freeman of battery in a police report filed this past week, and the Mishawaka Police Department has turned the matter over to prosecutors to decide if charges will be filed.
Freeman’s son, Vinny, is a senior at Penn High School and lost his match. Afterwards, Fleeger allegedly exchanged words with the elder Freeman and Penn’s head coach. There was alleged “physical contact,” according to the South Bend Tribune, but the severity was not detailed in the police report. Fleeger also had a “shouting match” with Freeman’s wife, Joanna, according to the report.
A Mishawaka police spokesperson confirmed to Front Office Sports that the incident report was referred to prosecutors.
Notre Dame football went 10–2 this season, but was left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Fighting Irish later decided not to play in a bowl game.
Freeman has been discussed as a potential NFL head coaching candidate. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said Sunday morning that NFL teams “still believe” there is a chance Freeman would make the jump to the professional ranks, even though he has previously announced that he would return to Notre Dame in 2026.
