Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman was accused of battery by an assistant wrestling coach at an Indiana high school following his son’s match earlier this month, according to the South Bend Tribune.
The university pushed back against the allegations — which occurred Jan. 3 at a wrestling invitational for his son, Vinny, according to the Tribune — made by New Prairie’s Chris Fleeger and called them “totally unfounded.”
A police report was filed following the incident, and an investigation was conducted by the local police department.
It’s unclear if any charges will be filed following the investigation, the Tribune reported.
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” Notre Dame said in a statement. “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 totally unfounded.”
Freeman, Notre Dame’s head coach since 2021 and the subject of NFL interest during the recent coaching carousel, allegedly made “physical contact” with Fleeger as he walked through a door and into a hallway following a match at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational that Vinny, a senior at Penn High School, lost, according to the Tribune.
Fleeger allegedly “began exchanging words” with Vinny, Freeman and the Penn wrestling coach as they walked off the mat and out of the gym, the outlet reported.
Freeman’s wife, Joanna, also allegedly “engaged in a shouting match” with Fleeger, and police intervened, according to the Tribune.
The Freemans reportedly left the invitational following the incident despite not being asked to.
The report from the Tribune was published the same day that NFL Network reported that NFL teams have “basically ignored” Freeman’s X post Dec. 29 that revealed his commitment to the Fighting Irish for 2026.
“My understanding is Marcus Freeman, who did receive a contract adjustment — not an extension, an adjustment — from Notre Dame for his agreement to stay, these teams who viewed him highly still believe there is a chance he comes to the NFL,” Ian Rapoport said during an NFL Network segment Sunday. “They still believe … he is a top-tier candidate. Now it would probably not be like Marcus Freeman coming and interviewing. It would be they go through the process and then say, ‘This is the guy we want.’ That’s really the only way it would work.
“But Marcus Freeman still looms large in the NFL coaching carousel.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
