Notre Dame University has issued a firm denial of battery allegations made against its head football coach, Marcus Freeman. The claims originate from an incident at a local high school wrestling meet earlier this month.
Allegations Stem from Youth Wrestling Match
The controversy centres on an event that took place on 3 January. According to a police report filed by Chris Fleeger, an assistant wrestling coach at New Prairie High School, an altercation occurred involving the Freeman family. The South Bend Tribune reported that police and school officials had to intervene to separate the parties after Freeman's wife, Joanna Freeman, engaged in a shouting match with the coach.
The police report did not detail the specific nature of the alleged physical contact between Freeman and Fleeger. The Freemans subsequently left the event, although they were not formally asked to depart.
University's Forceful Rebuttal
In a statement released to multiple news outlets, Notre Dame presented a starkly different account of the event. The university asserts that the coach's son, Vinny Freeman, was "verbally accosted" during and after his match by the local coach.
"Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation," the statement read. It categorically denied any physical confrontation, stating, "At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone."
The university expressed confidence in the evidence, adding, "We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are totally unfounded."
Current Status and Coaching Record
As of now, no charges have been filed in connection with the incident, and the timeline for a potential charging decision remains unclear.
Marcus Freeman, who just completed his fourth full season at the helm of the Fighting Irish, has compiled a strong record since taking over in 2021. Under his leadership, the team has achieved a 43-12 win-loss record and notably reached the College Football Playoff final last season.
The situation places a prominent figure in American college sports under scrutiny, though the university's unequivocal defence suggests a robust challenge to the allegations.
