Coach Marcus Freeman has been selected as the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches (NCMFC) College Coach of the Year, honoring a minority coach who has excelled on the field and had an exemplary season, or a coach who has used his position to advance diversity in the college ranks. This honoree demonstrates integrity, character, and excellence both on and off the field.
Freeman was also the winner of the 2024 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award, the 2024 Dodd Trophy, the 2024 George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, and was selected as the honorary head coach for the 2024 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team. In his third season at Notre Dame, he led the Irish to a National Championship appearance and a 14-2 record, with a final Associated Press ranking of No. 2.
With Notre Dame’s title game run in 2024, Freeman became the first Black or Asian American head coach to appear in the CFP National Championship game.
