Prosecutors in Indiana have decided not to pursue criminal battery charges against Notre Dame's head football coach, Marcus Freeman, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. The decision follows an investigation into an alleged altercation at a high school wrestling event in early January.
The Incident at the Wrestling Match
The situation unfolded on January 3 at Mishawaka High School, where Freeman was attending his 17-year-old son Vinny's wrestling competition. According to a police report, Vinny, a standout wrestler for Penn High who is committed to Cornell University, lost his match. He was subsequently escorted from the mat by his father and his school's head coach, Brad Harper.
It was during this exit that words were exchanged with New Prairie High assistant coach Chris Fleeger. Fleeger later told Mishawaka police that Freeman shoved him. In his statement, Fleeger acknowledged recognising the famous coach, noting he was 'rich,' and indicated he planned to hire an attorney.
The incident allegedly escalated as Freeman moved into a hallway, and Freeman's wife, Joanna, also engaged in a shouting match with Fleeger before law enforcement and school officials intervened. The Freeman family left the premises voluntarily, and reports indicate Vinny was notably absent from the podium ceremony afterwards.
Conflicting Testimony and Lack of Evidence
The St. Joseph's County prosecutor's office stated that after reviewing the police investigation, they concluded no criminal battery occurred. A key factor was conflicting testimony from two acquaintances of Fleeger, which was not corroborated by video evidence from the scene.
'Based on a review of all of the evidence, the State would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred,' the office said in a statement. 'While the evidence suggests that a touching may have occurred, an inadvertent touching is not sufficient. The State is therefore declining to file any criminal charges.'
Freeman had denied making physical contact with Fleeger, telling police he only instructed the assistant coach to stop discussing his son and teammates.
Freeman's Position and Future
The resolution of this legal matter comes at a significant time for the 40-year-old coach. Marcus Freeman, a father of seven, has recently been linked with several NFL head coaching vacancies. Instead of moving to the professional league, he has renegotiated his contract to remain at the University of Notre Dame.
While the precise details are private, he is believed to have received a substantial raise from the $7.4 million he earned in the 2023-24 season. On the field, Freeman holds a 43-12 record over five seasons leading the Fighting Irish, who finished 10-2 this past season.
With the potential distraction of criminal charges now removed, Freeman can focus fully on preparing his team for their 2026 season opener against the Wisconsin Badgers in Green Bay on September 6.
