Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has been accused of battery over an incident that took place at a wrestling meet with a coach.
Freeman was attending a wrestling meet at Mishawaka High School in Mishawaka, In. on Jan. 3, in order to support his son Vinny. Vinny Freeman was being escorted off the mat after a loss when New Prairie high school wrestling assistant coach Chris Fleeger allegedly began exchanging words with him, according to Austin Hough and Kyle Smedley of the South Bend Tribune.
Marcus Freeman allegedly intervened and made physical contact with Fleeger while walking through a doorway. The extent of the contact was not disclosed, but Fleeger filed a police report accusing Freeman of battery. That report has been turned over to a prosecutor, who will make a decision on whether to charge the Notre Dame coach.
The alleged incident ended when local law enforcement intervened and separated Freeman and his wife from Fleeger. The Freeman family left when asked to do so.
In a statement provided by Notre Dame, Freeman denied that he physically engaged with anyone, and expects to be exonerated by evidence.
Statement from Notre Dame athletics:
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 11, 2026
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach. Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman…
News of the potential charges comes on the same day it was reported that Freeman is still drawing head coaching interest from NFL teams.
Freeman just finished up his fourth full season with the Fighting Irish. He has gone 43-12 overall, and led Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff final in 2024.
