Celebrating Notre Dame's Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia was a family affair for the Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman.
after Notre Dame defeated Georgia 23-10 On Thursday, January 2, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Freeman, 38, He appeared with his wife, JoannaTheir six children are in the field As confetti fell around them and the university band played cheerfully in the background.
Marcus and Joanna married in 2010 after meeting during their time at Ohio State University. Together they share six children: a son Vinnie17, daughter Siena12, son Gino11, son Nico9, daughter capri, 7, and son Rocco,6.
With Notre Dame's victory, the team advances to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they will face Penn State on Thursday, January 9. The winner of that game will then face the winner of Ohio State/Texas in the national championship game on January 20. .
Courtesy of Marcus Freeman/Instagram Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman has a great team off the field, too. Freeman, 38, who became Notre Dame's head football coach in December 2021, married his wife, Joanna Freeman, in 2010. The couple met during their time at Ohio State University, where Marcus[…]
Joanna and the children have been by Marcus' side throughout his tenure at Notre Dame, dating back to his introductory press conference in 2021.
Shortly after his appointment, Joanna candidly admitted that their relationship wasn't exactly a fairytale.
Marcus Freeman celebrates the win with his family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4Q5JQFiUqv
– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) January 3, 2025
“We don't have a very romantic love story,” Joanna said He said Yahoo Sports In 2021. “We had a lot of breakups and make-ups. We fell hard. We fell quickly. We were really young when we met, and in many ways, we've really grown and matured into adults together.
After Thursday's game, Freeman was asked about the historical significance of the victory. Before this season, no Black coach had ever coached a College Football Playoff game. Along with Penn State's head coach James Franklinthere are two black coaches in this year's semifinals.
“You're so grateful,” Freeman said. “It's a reminder that you represent so many others and so many of our players who look the same way I do. Your color shouldn't matter. It should be the proof of your work.”
He continued: “But it takes everyone.” This is what I keep reminding myself. When people try to point the finger at you, it's a great reminder that you're not in this situation without everyone, without all those people. That's what I told them in the locker room.”
Freeman explained that he felt embarrassed at the cup ceremony after the match, and insisted that the spotlight not be on him alone.
“I couldn't get off that stage fast enough because everyone couldn't be there,” he told reporters. “It's about the team. It's about everyone giving everything they have to make sure we can achieve this success.
“So, it's a great honor,” Freeman added. It's a privilege. But again, as a head coach of this place, I understand that we're not in this position unless everyone in this program does their job.
