At a Glance
- Police report claims Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman made physical contact with a high-school coach on Jan. 3
- A video provided to investigators shows no evidence of battery, the university says
- The prosecutor’s office now decides whether to file charges
Why it matters: The accusation could have derailed Freeman’s 2026 season and NFL coaching prospects, but Notre Dame says evidence backs him completely.
Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman is facing a battery accusation after a heated exchange at an Indiana wrestling meet, yet the university insists video footage proves the claim is baseless.
Incident at Mishawaka High
Freeman, 40, attended the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational on January 3, 2026, to watch his son Vinny, a senior bound for Cornell. After Vinny lost a match, Freeman and Vinny’s coach escorted the teen off the mat, the South Bend Tribune reported.
New Prairie High School assistant wrestling coach Chris Fleeger then began “exchanging words” with the group, according to the police report reviewed by the Tribune.
- The confrontation escalated in a hallway.
- Fleeger and Freeman’s wife, Joanna, shouted at each other.
- School staff and law-enforcement officers separated the parties.
- Fleeger filed a battery report at the scene; the Freeman family left the building.
The report states that “claims of physical contact allegedly occurred between Marcus Freeman and Fleeger,” but it does not describe the supposed contact.
University Denial
Notre Dame Athletics issued a blunt rebuttal the same weekend.
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” the university told News Of Losangeles. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone.”
The statement concluded: “We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are unfounded.”
Investigation Status
Mishawaka Police completed their probe on January 11, 2026, and forwarded the file to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office, ESPN reported. Prosecutors now decide whether to bring charges.
Key Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan. 3, 2026 | Altercation at Mishawaka High School |
| Jan. 11, 2026 | Mishawaka Police close investigation |
| TBD | Prosecutor’s charging decision |
Freeman is expected to lead the Fighting Irish in the 2026 season. Multiple NFL teams had reportedly expressed interest in hiring him as head coach before the allegation surfaced.
Ethan R. Coleman reported the original story for News Of Losangeles.
