The Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s head coach, Marcus Freeman, made history by being the first Asian American and Black coach to guide a team to the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship.
Freeman and his squad qualified for the national championship game scheduled for January 20, 2025, following an exciting 27-24 Orange Bowl victory over Penn State.
After the game, Freeman, who is Korean and African American by ethnicity, looked back on the significance of this accomplishment and praised his wife, parents, and team.
“I’m honored, but this isn’t just about me,” Freeman said after the win. “This is about the team and what we’ve accomplished together. I hope this sets a precedent for other minority coaches to get opportunities to lead, and it’s about the legacy of the Notre Dame program,” he said, according to Style Rave.
Freeman’s groundbreaking feat has struck a chord with both fans and players, since the Irish have not only won the National Championship, but they have done so under a coach who values his mixed ethnic heritage.
Freeman’s route began with a strong football career and a desire to coach. According to Style Rave, he established himself as a defensive coordinator before taking over as head coach of Notre Dame in 2021.
He demonstrated his defensive expertise as the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Cincinnati made great progress under Freeman’s direction, and his achievements there paved the way for him to become head coach of Notre Dame.
Before making history thanks to his diverse ethnic background, Freeman acknowledged in interviews that he didn’t fully embrace his Korean heritage as a child but eventually learned to value it.
His parents are of two ethnicities: Korean American and Black. His father, an Air Force soldier, met Freeman’s mother while stationed in South Korea, which marked the beginning of Freeman’s diverse background.
Having practiced Taekwondo as a child and frequently discussing the impact of his mother, a Korean immigrant, Freeman’s Korean American heritage is an important aspect of who he is.
He stated that his parents’ ancestry taught him important life lessons about sacrifice, altruism, and consistency.
Freeman married Joanna Freeman, his college love, in 2010. The couple have six children, and Freeman frequently speaks of Joanna as the “rock” of the family, recognizing that her support and dedication have been critical in reconciling his busy profession with family life.
When Freeman took over Notre Dame in 2021, his base salary was $2.29 million. By 2022, that sum had risen to $5.79 million, with bonuses and other incentives driving his total income even higher.
His commitment and abilities to motivate his team have brought the Fighting Irish very close to winning a national championship. Now serving as the first Asian American and Black coach to make it to the College Football Playoff finals, Freeman’s guidance is an inspirational symbol of the sport’s advancement.
