Marcus Freeman Hopes to Proceed Traditions, Together with Rivalries, Independence

Joel Klatt

Lead School Soccer Analyst

I’ve been among the many many who’ve been impressed with what Marcus Freeman has inbuilt South Bend by his first three seasons as Notre Dame’s head coach. Actually, I used to be so impressed with how he coached this season that I mentioned following Notre Dame’s nationwide title sport loss to Ohio State that I feel he might win a championship quickly if he opts to remain in South Bend.

So, we determined to deliver “Huge Midday Conversations” to South Bend and interview Freeman for the premiere of the present’s third season. As Freeman prepares for his fourth season as the pinnacle coach of the Preventing Irish, he and I touched on quite a few gadgets all through our 30-minute dialog. We mentioned Notre Dame’s impartial standing, the way forward for its rivalry with USC, studying from his early losses as head coach and carrying on this system’s custom.

Listed below are a few of the highlights of my dialog with Freeman.

Elements of this interview have been edited for brevity.

Klatt: I’ve gotta inform you, and I didn’t wish to inform you earlier than you sat down, as a result of I didn’t wish to steal this line and I hate to interrupt it to all of you on the market. That is my singular favourite spot in faculty soccer, the locker room at Notre Dame Stadium.

Freeman: I recognize that. We’ve gotta ensure that we get that message on the market slightly bit extra.

It’s unimaginable, they usually did slightly little bit of this earlier than you grew to become the pinnacle coach, however mixing the outdated with the brand new, going out the door and down the tunnel and all of the historical past. But, it’s a contemporary program that’s excelling. I really feel all of that once I stroll into this constructing and it’s simply quintessentially faculty soccer, which is de facto cool.

That’s what we would like it to be. You’ll be able to’t get away from the issues which have made this place particular. You embrace it. You have a good time it. You present it off. However you additionally wish to proceed to be related. You wish to proceed to be new, stylish and appeal to younger expertise. Notre Dame does an impressive job of doing that.

You say “appeal to younger expertise.” What I’m fascinated by is that once I stroll in, the historical past hits me and I adore it. However while you get a younger child out right here, how lengthy does it take for them to understand what this place is?

It will depend on who it’s. Typically, their dad and mom perceive it, which may resonate with the younger individual. However numerous these younger individuals now, they haven’t any clue in regards to the outdated Notre Dame – the historical past and the way this program was constructed. The success it’s had and its 11 nationwide championships. We haven’t gained a championship since [1988]. How do you proceed to make this related? It’s essential that we clarify to the younger individual what makes this place particular.

Do this for me. Let’s say I’m a dad and I’ve a child, or I’m a child that you simply’re recruiting. How do you clarify the particular, distinctive nature of this place?

I feel it goes to date past the soccer program. We spend time speaking in regards to the historical past of Notre Dame soccer, the way it was constructed and the rationale why we’re impartial. We have been on the lookout for groups to play and we have been prepared to drive or go on a practice from coast to coast, from Navy or Boston School all the best way out to Southern Cal, in an effort to discover an opponent. That’s how the Notre Dame soccer program was constructed, in independence. That’s why we wish to preserve that independence as a lot as we will. That’s what makes this place so particular.

However I usually discuss in regards to the training, networking and other people which are intertwined with Notre Dame as a result of that’s, to me, what makes this place so totally different. Everyone that involves our program aspires to be a first-round choose. When you’re ok, you’ll be a first-round choose. We’ve acquired loads of them to indicate you. However what else do universities present you? And that’s what we’ve acquired to ensure we repeatedly educate younger individuals on. No. 1, the proportion of individuals which are these first-round picks or are these draft picks, but additionally the conclusion that soccer goes to finish. It’s going to finish earlier than you realize it. So, what else do these excessive academic establishments present you?

That’s what we would like individuals to know, what makes this place totally different. They like to speak by way of stars. It is a five-star soccer program; we get that. However there’s additionally a five-star training, and listed here are the advantages of acquiring an training from this college.

The 94-year-old Notre Dame Stadium has gone by loads of renovations over time, however the iconic “Play Like A Champion As we speak” signal that its gamers faucet earlier than taking the sphere stays. (Photograph by Erick W. Rasco /Sports activities Illustrated through Getty Photos).

You touched on independence, which was one thing I needed to the touch on with you. You kinda referenced it there, however how essential is it for you guys to retain your independence?

It’s what this soccer program was constructed from. So long as we will, we’ll [remain independent]. I’ve numerous confidence in our administration and Pete Bevacqu, our AD, that he’ll at all times preserve us able to achieve success. So, so long as we will preserve that independence, we’ll. But when there’s ever a time the place we’re at a drawback as a result of we’re not in a convention, I’m positive he’ll decide, together with our president, to affix one in all these conferences and place ourselves to not be negatively impacted by being impartial.

What’s the greatest risk to that? The place does a drawback pop up?

Being at a drawback to make the postseason since you’re not within the playoff or if there comes a time groups gained’t schedule you as a result of the Huge Ten or SEC are saying “we’re going to play 9 video games and a crossover sport and who cares about Notre Dame.” Properly, then there’s going to be some extent the place we’re pressured to affix a convention. Till that time occurs, which doesn’t look possible, we’re going to remain impartial for so long as we will.

Do you are feeling like independence matches with the way forward for the game due to what you mentioned there with crossover video games and scheduling?

I might see it trending that method. I don’t know when that point will likely be. However while you begin including in TV cash and scheduling, there’s some huge cash concerned with faculty soccer. There would possibly come a time the place an outdoor entity takes faculty soccer away from the NCAA. I don’t know, the longer term’s unsure. I might see a university soccer system the place everybody’s impartial and, much like the NFL, another person is scheduling video games and while you play one another. Impulsively, it’s not primarily based off TV offers together with your convention anymore. It’ll be primarily based off regional location and issues like that.

You guys lately made the scheduling settlement with Clemson, which I feel is nice. We’d like to see extra video games like that involving premium manufacturers. Are there every other groups that you simply’d prefer to play yearly?

I really feel such as you’re attempting to get a sure staff that’s been buzzing (laughs). You consider rivalries, and I’m positive you may return to while you performed highschool soccer and even earlier. I feel again to my highschool years. I used to be from Ohio and performed at a highschool referred to as Huber Heights Wayne. Our large rival was Centerville Elks. The blokes which have come from Centerville that you simply would possibly know are AJ Hawk, Kirk Herbstreit, Mike Nugent and a few actually nice gamers. That was an enormous rivalry. Then, you go to Ohio State and also you play Michigan yearly.

The factor about rivalry video games is that no one cares what the report is. You win that sport, you view that season as a hit.

Michigan final yr with Ohio State.

Amen. So, for us, one in all them that’s repeatedly introduced up right here over the past month or so is the rivalry with USC. Earlier than I even acquired to Notre Dame, there are reminiscences I’ve in my head of nice performs within the USC-Notre Dame rivalry. I feel it’s essential to proceed that rivalry.

In the event that they ask my opinion, I wish to repeatedly play USC yearly. It takes each events to tangle. It’s to suit each establishments. They’re in a convention, we’re not, once we play – all of these various things. However I feel it’s essential that we proceed to have this rivalry.

Notre Dame and USC have no video games scheduled in opposition to one another following the 2026 season, placing the way forward for one in all faculty soccer’s prime rivalries unsure. (Photograph by Ric Tapia/Getty Photos)

You guys simply made an unimaginable run within the School Soccer Playoff. You performed for a nationwide championship. What have you learnt now in regards to the head coach of Notre Dame that you simply want you would inform that man after the loss to Marshall in your first yr in 2022?

Most likely one very clear assertion: The best issues in life take time and there’s no such factor as on the spot gratification when you’re speaking about creating one thing nice. You study a lot extra from the losses. You’ll be able to’t lose otherwise you’re not going to have a job. However dropping is part of steady development. No one enjoys it, however there’s a desperation that each particular person naturally has once they’re within the dumps, once they’ve misplaced and really feel embarrassed. I feel I’ve had my most development as a pacesetter from a few of these troublesome losses.

However when you would’ve informed me once I was employed as the pinnacle coach right here that I might play in a nationwide championship sport in Yr 3, I might’ve been like, “Heck ya, that’s an superior begin.” However when you additionally would’ve mentioned that you simply had 9 losses in your report earlier than you probably did that, oof, that’s exhausting to swallow. However that’s what it took. That’s the expertise that I’ve needed to undergo, and we’ve needed to undergo as a program to place ourselves within the place we’re in now. We’ve acquired to proceed to make use of these experiences from the previous as a brand new basis for the longer term.

Is there a second or sport that stands out the place you are feeling you realized probably the most?

I feel every loss may need taught me one thing totally different. The very first loss to Oklahoma State, we’re up large. We’re up 21 preparing to enter half, they find yourself scoring and we’re up 14 at half. I’m like, “Man, that is simple, the pinnacle teaching factor.” Then, rapidly, you discover a approach to lose that sport and also you go, “Oh, this isn’t as simple as you thought.” We play at Ohio State within the first sport within the following yr. We’re up, I feel, within the third quarter, 10-7 perhaps. We’re up within the third quarter and I’m like, “We’re good.” We ended up dropping, [but I thought] we’re going to be nice.

Then, you lose to Marshall. And I feel, that loss, I had by no means gained a sport as a head coach, and also you begin dropping slightly bit of religion, like “Do I do know what it takes? What’s occurring? We’re a greater staff than how we simply performed. What’s it going to take?”

Marcus Freeman misplaced his first dwelling sport as Notre Dame’s head coach to Marshall in 2022. (Photograph by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)

So, you study by these losses. Then, you lose to Northern Illinois this previous yr. The lesson I realized from that was the right way to deal with success. We weren’t prepared. I wasn’t able to deal with success as a head coach. That was the primary time in my three years as head coach that we had gained that large sport early. … That is the primary time that we had gained that large sport. Everybody’s saying you’ve acquired a straightforward schedule, you’re going to the playoff. Then, you don’t put together mentally and bodily the appropriate method. The soccer Gods taught us an awesome lesson. I feel each loss, you study one thing totally different.

You got here up quick in opposition to Ohio State within the Nationwide Championship Sport. What did you study in that sport?

In these greatest video games and people greatest moments, you’ve gotta play your finest. You’ll be able to’t make errors in opposition to a staff like Ohio State. You consider that first drive on offense, I feel it was a 19-play drive. We execute, we’re bodily, and we go down and rating. Defensively, we didn’t play our greatest. Credit score to Ohio State. That they had some elite playmakers. They performed actually, rather well. I want we might return and play our greatest. The outcomes would possibly nonetheless be the identical, however there have been moments in that sport the place I assumed that’s not how we play all yr lengthy.

However hear, we fought till the very finish. We have been down 14 at half, 21 [later on] and it was an eight-point sport. This group isn’t going to give up. Ever. As I give it some thought, it’s like, OK, what didn’t I do to arrange them the appropriate method for that chance? What didn’t I do as the pinnacle coach to ensure we have been able to play our greatest in that second? Was the sport too large? Did I make it too small? I consider many alternative causes. I would like everybody in our program to assume that method, “What didn’t I do to ensure I used to be ready to benefit from that chance?” It’s actually exhausting to get there.

So, it’s one thing I’ll at all times keep in mind. We made some modifications. We already debriefed from that sport. If we’re in that scenario, listed here are some various things as we put together for it. On the finish of the day, you’ve acquired to play your finest while you’re enjoying the very best.

You bought some curiosity from the NFL from that run. As an alternative of asking you particularly about that, right here’s how I might reasonably ask you this query: What are the one or two issues we have to repair in faculty soccer to ensure the Marcus Freemans of the world keep?

I at all times take into consideration our employees and the way I, as the pinnacle coach, do the very best job doable to ensure our employees enjoys coming to work right here. A part of that’s attempting to not overwork them. Typically, faculty coaches can overwork their staffs. We’re going to work exhausting. I’m not saying it’s going to be simple. Nothing nice in life is straightforward. However how can we proceed to have a look at the calendar and make it in a method that there’s a while of steadiness for the assistant coaches? They’re those which are on the street 24/7 continually. We’ve acquired to create some kind of steadiness for these coaches and I feel we’re. I see us trending, from my first yr to now my fourth yr, in a course that’s attempting to create some kind of steadiness for assistant coaches and that’s essential.

However how can we proceed to have a university soccer construction that helps younger individuals regularly turn into self-sufficient? I feel again to my time at Ohio State. I used to be a fairly large recruit. There was a thought in my head, “I’m going to stroll in right here and begin.” Properly, you’ve acquired three linebackers, two of them have been first-round picks – AJ Hawk and Bobby Carpenter – and the opposite was a third-round choose, Anthony Schlegel. I wasn’t ok to start out. I needed to study for 2 years to embrace my position and proceed to work, although I wasn’t enjoying as a lot as I needed. How do I, as a person, benefit from my alternatives and get higher? That’s the way you turn into self-sufficient. You overcome challenges. There was no thought for me to rise up and go someplace else.

That’s the best factor I needed to study to do. Keep there, overcome some adversity, benefit from the alternatives that I acquired, graduate and get a level. I simply don’t need a construction that’s created the place when issues get exhausting, it’s simple to select up and go someplace else. I feel it’s essential that we create guidelines and a few kind of construction that continues to advertise self-sufficiency for younger individuals and overcoming obstacles.

Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame misplaced to Ryan Day and Ohio State within the 2025 Nationwide Championship Sport (Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos).

Once I first got here to Notre Dame, I used to be like, “I don’t wish to like Notre Dame.” However once we acquired right here a few years in the past to arrange to name Notre Dame’s sport in opposition to Wisconsin, you have been the defensive coordinator on the time, we did some interviews and I’m strolling round, “It’s not that cool.” Then, we go to the Grotto, the Basilica, we stroll on this locker room and I stroll out on the sphere. I used to be like, “Dang it, this place is so superior.” I nonetheless really feel that method. It’s a extremely particular place.

It’s. It’s an honor to be part of this place. You’ve acquired to be cautious about how a lot you brag about it as a result of any individual that hasn’t been right here to know may be bowled over as a result of the best way individuals have a lot ardour about this place. I feel again to earlier than I grew to become the defensive coordinator right here. I was like, “Notre Dame followers are excessive. These guys are loopy.” Then, you get right here, and it’s such a ardour for this place and college.

Joel Klatt is FOX Sports activities’ lead faculty soccer sport analyst and the host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Present.” Comply with him at @joelklatt and subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Present” on YouTube.

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