Notre Dame refutes claim of battery against Marcus Freeman

Notre Dame has denied wrongdoing by head football coach Marcus Freeman after a local high school wrestling coach filed a police report accusing him of battery.

The South Bend Tribune reported Sunday that Chris Fleeger, an assistant wrestling coach for New Prairie High School, had gone to police over an incident at a meet on Jan. 3. Per the report, police and school officials had to separate the Freemans from Fleeger, as Freeman's wife Joanna had a shouting match with the wrestling coach.

Police did not disclose to the newspaper the extent of the contact that Fleeger alleges took place between him and the Fighting Irish coach.

Notre Dame released a statement to multiple outlets about the incident, painting a different story and denying contact occurred altogether.

"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 totally unfounded."

No charges have been filed in the case, and it's not known what the timeline for that decision may be.

The Freemans left the meet though they were not formally asked to do so, according to the South Bend Tribune.

Marcus Freeman, 40, just completed his fourth full season as Notre Dame's head coach. The Fighting Irish have gone 43-12 under Freeman, including 10-2 in 2025, just missing out on a berth in the College Football Playoff.

--Field Level Media