Marcus Freeman explains adjustments as head coach

New Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman started his football journey as an All-American high school player, eventually going to Ohio State where he starred at linebacker. This offseason, rumors circulated that LSU Ohio State could hire him as defensive coordinator, but a head coaching offer to stay at Notre Dame prevailed.

During a halftime interview with NBC’s All-American game broadcast crew, Marcus Freeman started the segment by watching a video of himself celebrating his promotion with the Notre Dame players. He then went on to describe what the moment meant to him.

“It was a long time coming,” said Freeman. “I’ve said it before but those days leading up to that embracement was something that seemed like a century. And to be able to go hug your team and hug those guys that you love and you’ve gotten to this point with, it was such a surreal moment that I’ll remember forever.”

Now that he holds the job, he must hit the recruiting trail, build a staff and balance a mountain of responsibilities. Freeman discussed how he is taking on his new roll with the team.

“I think when you’re not in this chair, all the sudden you think if you become the head coach at Notre Dame you’re gonna be a different person,” said Freeman. “The reality is you’re not. You’re the same person you were as you grew up throughout the course of your life. But the responsibilities are different, the expectations are different. And those are things that I’ve embraced. You’re learning day by day, minute by minute and moment by moment and just trying to knock out one task at a time. But you’re going to do it with hard work, you’re going to do it with integrity and that’s what I’ve always done.”

Marcus Freeman makes key staff addition

Marcus Freeman’s first staff at Notre Dame is coming together with help from offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. The Fighting Irish are reportedly close to bringing back a former Fighting Irish offensive line coach for a second stint.

Harry Hiestand, who worked at Notre Dame from 2012-17, is close to a return to South Bend, according to Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel. Hiestand worked for the Chicago Bears from 2018-19 after leaving the Fighting Irish and has not coached since.

While at Notre Dame, Hiestand helped develop multiple NFL draft picks, including Quenton Nelson, Mike McGlinchey, Zack Martin and Ronnie Staley. He has more than 30 years of college coaching experience, getting his start with Penn in 1986. Hiestand also worked at Cincinnati, Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee.