Sports

Marcus Freeman Gets Enthusiastic Welcome As He Officially Becomes New Head Notre Dame Football Coach

December 3, 2021 / 11:29 PM CST / CBS Chicago

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (CBS/AP) -- Marcus Freeman got all the support from his team after the Notre Dame defensive coordinator officially accepted the head coaching job.

After one year at the school, Freeman is a first-time head coach, as the fighting Irish await the weekend's results. At 11-1, Freeman and company are still alive to make the four-team college football playoff.

Freeman, 35, has taken over the program less than one season after joining Notre Dame from Cincinnati.

Freeman's elevation comes with the program also retaining offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. A former Irish quarterback under Kelly from 2010-13, Rees was reportedly courted to join Kelly at LSU. Retaining Rees to lead the offense was believed to be a key for Notre Dame if it decided to promote Freeman from within.

Rees announced his decision to stay with the Irish at a team meeting Wednesday night.

Though Freeman will become one of the youngest head coaches in Notre Dame history, he has dramatically impacted the program since arriving before the start of the season. The Irish held their final four opponents to a combined 23 points, and the program is also putting the finishing touches on its first top-five class since 2013 thanks in large part to Freeman's leadership on the recruiting trail.

Former Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly became the winningest coach in school history earlier this season, surpassing Knute Rockne. In 12 seasons with the Fighting Irish, Kelly is 113-40, including the current run of five straight double-digit victory seasons.

Notre Dame completed an 11-1 season on Saturday and still is in contention to reach the College Football Playoff for the third time in the last four years.

No previous Notre Dame coach has ever left the Irish, winners of eight national championships as voted on by the AP, to take a job at another school.

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