Marcus Freeman, the head coach for Notre Dame, will not be prosecuted for battery after an alleged incident at his son’s high school wrestling competition, as reported by Bennett Wise of WSBT.
According to Wise, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office examined the available information and determined it “could not establish a crime occurred beyond a reasonable doubt. Although the evidence implies physical contact might have taken place, accidental contact does not meet the necessary threshold.”
The purported event happened on Saturday, January 3rd, at Mishawaka High School in Indiana. The South Bend Tribune stated that Chris Fleeger, an assistant coach from New Prairie High School, submitted a police complaint against Freeman earlier in the week.
The complaint was subsequently forwarded to the prosecuting attorneys.
Details from the South Bend Tribune are as follows:
The confrontation reportedly ensued after Vinny Freeman’s match against Israel Sinnott, a senior from Hanover Central, which Vinny did not win. While Vinny was being guided off the wrestling mat and out of the gymnasium by Marcus and Penn’s head coach Brad Harper, Fleeger purportedly initiated a verbal exchange with the party.
Upon Marcus Freeman’s entry through the doorway into the corridor, an alleged physical interaction took place between Marcus Freeman and Fleeger; however, authorities did not specify the degree of this supposed contact. In the hallway, Fleeger and Marcus Freeman’s spouse, Joanna, became involved in a loud argument until local police and Mishawaka school administrators intervened to separate the two parties.
Notre Dame released a statement on Sunday asserting that video recordings “completely clear” Freeman. Vinny Freeman is the eldest among the six children of the Freeman family.
“Vinny Freeman, the son of head coach Marcus Freeman, was verbally harassed by a local wrestling coach both during and following his wrestling bout,” Notre Dame declared in its statement. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman stepped in and took Vinny away from the scenario. Coach Freeman never made physical contact with anyone. We are confident that the police documentation, which contains video proof, entirely clears Coach Freeman and confirms these allegations are entirely baseless.”
Freeman, who marked his 40th birthday on Saturday, recently concluded his fifth year with Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have achieved a 43-12 record during his tenure at the institution, finishing the 2025 season with a 10-2 standing before Miami surpassed them in the final College Football Playoff rankings, causing them to miss out on the post-season.
Freeman’s name has surfaced as a prospective contender for positions in the NFL, despite his earlier declaration that he would remain at Notre Dame for the 2026 season. A report on Sunday morning from the NFL Network indicated that professional football teams continue to consider Freeman. Currently, eight teams have openings for a head coach.
