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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have promoted defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to head coach, according to multiple media reports. Freeman has been seen as a rising star in coaching circles and was one of the contenders for the position. The Irish will also be retaining Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports.
Marcus Freeman is expected to be the next head coach at Notre Dame, sources tell @On3sports https://t.co/k5bN5NhJoE
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 2, 2021
Can confirm per sources that #NotreDame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will remain. Notre Dame stepped up to keep him as OC. Could be a package deal with Marcus Freeman as head coach. Stay tuned …
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 2, 2021
“This is where my heart is.”@T_Rees11 | #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/n8aVHm7GsB
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) December 2, 2021
The Irish had to make a quick hire for two reasons. The first is Brian Kelly’s stunning departure for LSU, leaving a team in College Football Playoff contention without a coach with a bowl game still to play. The second is the CFP committee criteria, which states a team can be evaluated negatively for not having a coach available. Notre Dame did not name an interim coach ahead of being ranked No. 6 in the latest CFP rankings.
With Freeman and Rees both reportedly being lured by Kelly to join him at LSU, Notre Dame had to move quickly to retain both coordinators. Expect a formal announcement regarding Freeman’s promotion soon.