Notre Dame Athletics football coach Marcus Freeman has been accused of battery after he allegedly got into an altercation with a New Prairie High School wrestling coach.
Per the South Bend Tribune, the January 3 incident occurred at Mishawaka High School, and a police report was later filed against Freeman.
Freeman is said to have gotten into the altercation with New Prairie high school wrestling assistant coach Chris Fleeger. Freeman was at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational to support his son, while Fleeger was there to execute coaching duties for the Cougars.
Fleeger reported Freeman to a Mishawaka police officer at the event and accused the latter of battery, the South Bend Tribune reported. After investigating the case, the Mishawaka police handed over its findings to the prosecutor’s office to ascertain if charges should be brought against Freeman.
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The incident is said to have occurred after a match between Freeman’s son, Vinny, and Hanover Central senior Israel Sinnott. After Sinnott won the match, Fleeger allegedly got into a verbal altercation with Freeman and Penn head coach Brad Harper.
And though it was later alleged that Freeman and Fleeger later had physical contact, police did not share details about the severity. Freeman’s wife, Joanna, and Fleeger also got into a verbal altercation, but the two groups were separated by local law enforcement and Mishawaka school officials.
Freeman and his family ultimately left the event. In the aftermath of the incident, Notre Dame Athletics denied the physical contact allegations that were brought against Freeman.
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” the statement said. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone. We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are unfounded.”
