Marcus Freeman, the head football coach of the University of Notre Dame, is the subject of a police investigation following an incident at a high school wrestling competition in Indiana.
Altercation at Wrestling Invitational
The situation unfolded on January 3 at Mishawaka High School, where Freeman was attending the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational to watch his son compete. His 17-year-old son, Vinny Freeman, a senior at Penn High School, had just lost his match to Hanover Central's Israel Sinnott.
According to a police report filed afterwards, an argument erupted as Vinny was being escorted from the mat by his father and Penn's head coach, Brad Harper. The dispute was with Chris Fleeger, an assistant wrestling coach from New Prairie High School.
Conflicting Accounts of the Incident
Fleeger's report to the authorities accuses Marcus Freeman of battery, alleging the confrontation turned physical as they moved into a hallway. Police have not detailed the nature of the alleged contact.
In a strongly worded statement released to the South Bend Tribune, Notre Dame Athletics has fiercely denied these claims. The statement asserts that no physical contact took place and that video evidence supports Coach Freeman's version of events.
'Vinny Freeman was verbally accosted during and after his match by a local wrestling coach,' the university's statement read. 'Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened to remove Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone. We believe the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates him.'
Aftermath and Fallout
The altercation reportedly also involved Freeman's wife, Joanna, who engaged in a shouting match with Fleeger before law enforcement and school officials intervened to separate the groups.
Although the Freeman family was not asked to leave, they departed the premises. Consequently, Vinny was one of only two eligible athletes absent from the podium ceremony for the 112 competitors.
The investigation places Freeman, who earns a reported $9 million per year and has been linked with several NFL head coaching roles, under an unwelcome spotlight. The case remains with local police as they review the evidence.
