COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Born and raised in Ohio, Marcus Freeman has lived the dream of many young athletes in the state by earning a football scholarship to play for Ohio State.
Despite now leading Notre Dame, Freeman’s roots as a Buckeye run deep.
Freeman spent five years at Ohio State, where he played linebacker, interned in the athletic department, and worked as a graduate assistant coach. These experiences helped shape his leadership skills, leading to his rapid ascent to head coach of Notre Dame at just 36 years old. Now, a few years later, he has guided his team to a national title matchup against his former Buckeye family.
Freeman’s connection to Ohio State is profound. His father, a Columbus native, instilled in him a love for the Buckeyes. Growing up in Huber Heights, outside Dayton, Freeman became a football star and one of the top high school recruits in the state, drawing the attention of Ohio State.
During his final season as a Buckeye, Freeman already was pursuing a graduate degree in sports management. He has indicated that understanding the inner workings of an athletic department helped him appreciate that it’s not just about football.
In 2010, Freeman’s playing career ended due to a heart condition, prompting him to begin his coaching career as an OSU graduate assistant. He then made coaching stops at Kent State, Purdue, and Cincinnati before landing at Notre Dame following the 2021 season.
Freeman’s journey to the top has been impressive, but on Monday night, he’ll face an OSU team that he lost to in 2022 and 2023.
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