Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman has been given a contract extension.
Reports indicate that it’s a four-year extension. Since Freeman had two seasons remaining on his current deal, this extension means he is now under contract for six more seasons.
“I am grateful for the support of the Board of Trustees, led by John Veihmeyer, President Fr. Bob Dowd, C.S.C., and Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua,” Freeman said in a statement. “The investment they continue to pour into our program is invaluable to our student-athletes and staff. This commitment goes well beyond myself, as they are dedicated to ensuring all aspects of our program are competitive within the upper echelon of college football.”
Freeman has a 30-9 record as Notre Dame’s head coach, and he’s in his third season as the Fighting Irish’s head coach. He has the 2024 squad at number 3 in the AP Top 25 poll and is preparing the team to take on the Indiana Hoosiers in South Bend on Friday in the first round of the new 12-team College Football Playoff.
Earlier this season, Freeman was on the hot seat after the Irish tumbled in a shocking 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois. The loss jeopardized the Irish’s playoff chances and it wasn’t the first time the Irish had been upset by a heavy underdog at home during the Freeman era.
Freeman has used the loss to help focus his team and the Irish have won 10 straight, most with ease, since the stumble against NIU.
After being the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati for four years, Freeman was promoted from Notre Dame defensive coordinator to replace former head coach Brian Kelly when Kelly left to be the head coach at LSU in 2021. In his first season, the Irish were 9-4 and won the Gator Bowl against South Carolina. Last season, a 10-3 Notre Dame team beat Oregon State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.
Some reports had linked Freeman to the head coach opening for the NFL’s Chicago Bears, though it was never clear if Freeman was a serious candidate or if the reports were just speculation given Notre Dame’s proximity to Chicago and Freeman’s rising career trajectory.
Those reports can be put to rest now.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman earns contract extension
