Notre Dame, Indiana – University of Notre Dame Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Brian Kelly on Friday announced his coaching staff to include Marcus Freeman. Freeman Bob Hinton will serve as the defensive coordinator, and directly with the Irish linebackers. Hiring will be effective at the conclusion of the university’s standard employment process.
“As we noted in finding someone to run our defense, it was important to find the right fit for our program and Marcus and his family are just that,” Kelly said. “They have had great success on the field, with both of them doing defense work with their linebackers.” Additionally, he is considered among the elite recruits in the coaching ranks.
“The work that Marcus has done elevates programs that have been part of the speeches for themselves, but the extraordinary work he has done in building relationships with his staff and players. Marcus becomes our next defensive coordinator Was our top choice, and we are pleased to have him and his family join Notre Dame. ”
Freeman comes from his former position as defensive coordinator at South Bend and linebacker coach at the University of Cincinnati, a position he started in January 2017.
The Bearcats (9-1) made national noise in 2020-21, entering as the No. 8 ranked team in the country and winning the American Athletic Conference Championship, the program’s first straight league title since 2009, When Kelly served as the head coach of Cincinnati. Cincinnati made an appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, falling to a No. 9 Georgia by a narrow margin after a regular hiatus.
Cincinnati’s defense ranked in the top 20 nationally in multiple categories for 2020-21, 13th in total defense (324.6 yards per game) and eighth in scoring defense (16.8 points per game) among all FBS teams. doing. In addition, the Bearcats finished third in team passing efficiency defense (101.25), 14th in defensive defense (111.1 yards per game), 15th in red zone defense (0.735 rate), 17th in fourth down defense (0.375 rate). Finished 16th on the team in sacks (3.0 per game) and 10th in turnovers (21).
In addition to the Associated Press, AFCA and The Athletic second teams, standout Bearcat Cornerback Ahmed Gardner took several All-America selections to name the first teams from the FWAA and USA Today. He was also named first-team All-AAC.
Prior to his 2020 success, Freeman has been part of a UC staff that coached back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2018 and 2019 for the 2019 American Athletic Conference East Division Championship and consecutive Bowl-Game wins in 2018 . Military Bowl and 2019 TicketSmart Birmingham Bowl.
The Bearcats finished the 2019 AAC rank in scoring defense for the second-straight season and ranked in the league’s top three and overall defense. In 2018, Cincinnati led the American in the defense race, scoring defense and total defense and placing in the top-15 in NCAA FBS in all three categories.
Prior to Cincinnati, Freeman spent four years at Purdue, where he coached the linebackers all four seasons and in 2015 served as co-defensive coordinator for the Boilermakers. He is credited with transforming the Purdue Linings Corps into a force with many notable disciples, including: Marcus Bailey, 2016 Honorable Mention Big-Big Ten selection and leader of the Boilermaker Defense with 97 tackles; Purdue’s Guy “Red” McKay Award and Noble E. for the overall success of the University’s Intercollegiate Athletics program and for earning the highest GPA among football players in the 2016 calendar year. Saffron Award winner Jimmy Harman; And Ja’Whaun Bentley, a USA Today Freshman All-American in 2014 and voted a captain by his peers prior to the 2015 season.
Freeman coached linebackers at Kent State from 2011-12, where he guided inside linebacker Luke Batten to second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors in 2012, finishing 143 total tackles, including a total of 80 solo stops. Outside linebacker CJ Malaulu, in 2012, was a third-team all-conference selection, recording a 72-total tackles.
Freeman began his coaching career as an associate in 2010 at Ohma State’s Alma Matter, as the Buckeyes went 12–1 with a win in the Sugar Bowl.
A four-year letterwinner for the 2004–08 Buckeyes, Freeman earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2008, while helping Ohio State with four conference titles, three BCS Bowls, and two trips to the National Title Game during his career. Of. He played in the 2009 Senior Bowl and was a fifth-round NFL draft pick of the Chicago Bears, spending time with the Bears, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans before a medical condition ended his playing career.
A 2007 Ohio State graduate, Freeman earned Academic All-Big Ten and Academic All-District honors. 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 a Parade All-American.
Freeman has a daughter, Bria, and he and his wife, Joanna, have six children: Winnie, Sienna, Gino, Nico, Capri, and Rocco.
personal information
Birth: 10 January 1986
Hometown: Huber Heats., Ohio
Wife: Joanna
Children: Bria, Winnie, Sienna, Gino, Nico, Capri, Rocco
Education: Ohio State (2007, BS; 2011; MS)
Year in coaching: 10th
Playground
2004-08: Ohio State (linebacker)
2009: Chicago Bears (linebacker); Buffalo Bill (linebacker); Houston texas (linebacker)
Coach career
Year: School – Status
2010: Ohio State – Graduate Assistant
2011-12: Kent State – Linebackers
2013-15: Purdue – Linebackers
2016: Purdue – Co-defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
2017-: Cincinnati – Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
Included in BOWLS
Year: School – BOWL
2010: Ohio State – Chinese
2012: Kent State – GoDaddy.com
2018: Cincinnati – Military
2019: Cincinnati – Birmingham
2020: Cincinnati – Peach
Played in BOWLS
Year: School – BOWL
2005: Ohio State – Fiesta
2006: Ohio State – BCS National Championship
2007: Ohio State – BCS National Championship
2008: Ohio State – Feast Day
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