Prosecutors in St. Joseph's County, Indiana, have announced that Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman will not face criminal battery charges following an investigation into an incident at a high school wrestling event.
The Incident at Mishawaka High School
The situation unfolded on January 3 at Mishawaka High School, where Freeman was attending his son's wrestling competition. New Prairie High assistant coach Chris Fleeger alleged that Freeman shoved him. Fleeger later informed Mishawaka police that he recognised the coach, mentioned Freeman was 'rich,' and stated his intention to hire an attorney.
However, the case quickly unravelled. Police gathered conflicting testimony from two acquaintances of Fleeger, and crucially, video evidence from the scene did not support the claims. The footage has not been made public.
Freeman himself denied making physical contact with Fleeger. He told officers that he had instructed the assistant coach to stop discussing his son and teammates.
Prosecutor's Decision and Statement
After reviewing the police investigation, the St. Joseph's County prosecutor's office concluded there was insufficient evidence to proceed. In a formal statement, they declared that no criminal battery occurred and no charges would be filed against the 40-year-old coach.
'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 statement explained. 'While the evidence suggests that a touching may have occurred, an inadvertent touching is not sufficient.'
Background and Fallout
The altercation reportedly began after Freeman's 17-year-old son, Vinny, a standout wrestler for Penn High, lost his match. Freeman and Penn head coach Brad Harper escorted Vinny from the mat, leading to a verbal exchange with Fleeger. The situation allegedly turned physical as Freeman moved into a hallway.
Reports also indicate Freeman's wife, Joanna, engaged in a shouting match with Fleeger before law enforcement and school officials intervened. While the family was not asked to leave, they departed voluntarily. Notably, Vinny Freeman was one of only two athletes absent from the podium out of 112 eligible competitors.
This legal resolution comes as Freeman, who has seven children, recently renegotiated his contract to remain at Notre Dame amid NFL coaching interest. He is believed to have received a significant raise from his previous $7.4 million earnings. His son Vinny is committed to wrestling for Cornell University in the Ivy League starting in the 2026-27 season.
On the field, Freeman holds a 43-12 record over five seasons leading the Fighting Irish, who finished 10-2 this past season but missed the College Football Playoffs.
