Marcus Freeman shares what he is looking for in next Notre Dame defensive coordinator

Marcus Freeman was promoted to the leader of the new era of Notre Dame football from his position as the team’s defensive coordinator. As the hire was met with great fanfare, it left a hole at his former post.

Freeman’s attention is focused squarely on his head coaching debut in this season’s Fiesta Bowl. However, he was asked about the importance of finding the next defensive coordinator of the Fighting Irish in a press conference earlier this week.

“There’s an importance to it,” Freeman stated, when asked how important continuity and scheme is to finding the next Notre Dame defensive coordinator. “The number one thing I’m looking for is the ability to fit with this staff.

“That’s my No. 1 focus. When I really sit down and say hey, we’re going to figure out who we’re hiring at defensive coordinator — how is that person going to fit with that defensive staff. Because that defensive staff isn’t changing. Right. These guys helped me to get to a point where I could get to this position. So, we’re going to do it together.”

Evidently, Freeman isn’t looking to make wholesale changes to his defensive scheme. As it was with the promotion of Freeman, continuity is a big factor for the Fighting Irish.

Freeman: ‘There’s only so many different ways to play defense.’

Continuing, Marcus Freeman stressed the importance of a potential candidate adjusting to Notre Dame if they’d like to be hired.

“Now, if you’re asking a person to fit, I think that person also can adjust in terms of their ability,” began Freeman. “There’s only so many different ways to play defense. So many different coverages you play, so many different fronts you can play. People try to make it more complicated than what it is, but there’s only so much you can do.

“So, how about – I just encourage, it’s kind of what I did what I came here. I’m going to encourage whoever becomes that defensive coordinator, as much as can keep same as that you already have. We can change names. Put it on the defensive coordinator to be able to learn, relearn names, terminology. But don’t put all that stress on the players, let’s put that on the defensive coordinator. So, that’s one of the things that I’m going to demand. If we can keep as much same as what they know, it’s going to help them learn whatever new scheme and adjustments that we have.”

Marcus Freeman will hire a new defensive coordinator when he’s ready. However, like everything the Notre Dame coach does, it all boils down to one factor — doing what’s best for the Fighting Irish players.