Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman is now reportedly under investigation following a battery allegation tied to an alleged incident at a high school wrestling competition involving his son, according to reports.
The alleged incident took place Saturday, Jan. 3, at Mishawaka High School in Indiana. A police report was filed last week by New Prairie High School assistant coach Chris Fleeger, according to the South Bend Tribune. That report has since been forwarded to prosecutors, though as of Sunday, no decision had been made on whether charges will be filed.
According to details cited by the South Bend Tribune, the situation unfolded following a wrestling match between Freeman’s son, Vinny Freeman, and Hanover Central senior Israel Sinnott. Vinny Freeman lost the match and was being escorted off the mat and out of the gym by his parents, Marcus and Joanna Freeman, along with Penn High School head coach Brad Harper.
The report states that Fleeger allegedly began exchanging words with the group as they exited. As Marcus Freeman walked through a doorway into a hallway, physical contact allegedly occurred between Freeman and Fleeger. Police did not disclose the nature or extent of that contact. Once inside the hallway, Fleeger and Joanna Freeman were involved in a heated verbal exchange before local law enforcement and Mishawaka school officials intervened and separated the parties.
In response to the allegation, University of Notre Dame issued a strong statement Sunday defending its head coach and asserting that video evidence contradicts the claim. The university said footage from the event “fully exonerates” Freeman.
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” Notre Dame said in its statement. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone.”
The statement added that the police report, which includes video evidence, shows the allegations are “totally unfounded.”
Vinny Freeman is the eldest of Marcus and Joanna Freeman’s six children. The incident occurred on Freeman’s 40th birthday, capping an eventful weekend for the Notre Dame coach.
Freeman has just completed his fifth season leading the Fighting Irish and has compiled a 43–12 record during his tenure. In the 2025 season, Notre Dame finished 10–2 but was narrowly overtaken by Miami in the final College Football Playoff rankings, leaving the Irish just outside the postseason.
Despite the controversy, Freeman’s coaching future remains a major topic of discussion in football circles. Even after publicly stating his intention to remain at Notre Dame for the 2026 season, Freeman continues to draw attention as a potential NFL head coaching candidate.
A report Sunday morning from the NFL Network indicated that several NFL franchises are still monitoring Freeman as they search for new leadership. As of now, eight NFL teams are reportedly looking to fill head coaching vacancies.
While the legal review continues, Notre Dame officials have stood firmly behind Freeman, emphasizing the existence of video evidence and rejecting any suggestion of wrongdoing. Prosecutors have yet to announce whether they will pursue charges, leaving the matter unresolved as Freeman prepares for the offseason amid both legal scrutiny and continued professional interest at the highest levels of football.
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