Dec. 16 (UPI) — Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman agreed to a long-term contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid head football coaches in the country.
Notre Dame confirmed the agreement Sunday, but did not disclose the terms of the pact. A source familiar with the agreement confirmed that it is for four years, keeping Freeman under contract for six more seasons — through the 2030 campaign.
“I am grateful for the support of the board of trustees, led by John Veihmeyer, president Bob Dowd and director of athletics Pete Bevacqua,” Freeman said in a statement released by the athletic department. “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, 38, led the Fighting Irish to a 30-9 record over the last four years. He initially assumed the role in 2021 after former coach Brian Kelly left to take the job at LSU. The Irish went 9-4 in 2022, Freeman’s first full season. They went 10-3 in 2023.
The Freeman Era continues ☘️#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/qrhe4tROKH— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) December 16, 2024
Freeman, who went 2-1 in bowl games in his first three years, led the Irish to an 11-1 mark and the No. 5 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings in 2024. They will take on the No. 8 Indiana Hoosiers (11-1) in the first game of the first round of the expanded, 12-team playoff at 8 p.m. EST Friday in Notre Dame, Ind.
The winner of that matchup will battle the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
