If year three is the most important year for a Notre Dame football coach, Marcus Freeman has passed with flying colors.
Freeman has led the Irish to the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff format. They went 11-1 in the regular season and had a 10-game winning streak after a home loss to Northern Illinois.
Notre Dame continues to be a force on the recruiting trail even if the incoming class isn’t in the top 10.
This is to say that Freeman’s six-year contract extension is well-earned. The numbers haven’t been made public, but according to The Athletic, it is “among the most lucrative.”
Freeman’s name had been floated around as a possible NFL head coach candidate, along with that of the future Ohio State coach. There isn’t an out clause for Freeman if either of the two situations arises, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a buyout clause that would allow Freeman to take advantage of either opportunity in the future.
It can’t be said enough how much Freeman has done for the program since Brian Kelly left for LSU. In the current climate, Notre Dame couldn’t afford to swing and miss as often as they did after Lou Holtz’ departure.
Freeman’s tenure hasn’t always been smooth, but it looks like his staff is on solid ground, with Al Golden leading the defense and Mike Denbrock leading the offense. Denbrock is Freeman’s first true hire as offensive coordinator after those above him mishandled the Andy Ludwig situation.
Freeman still has work to do.
Notre Dame is poised to lose key members on the defensive side of the ball. On offense, Freeman has indicated that the quarterback position will be filled internally after a series of one-year stopgaps.
But for the most part, Notre Dame is the best fit for the program, both on and off the field, in a generation or two.
Something evident by the extension Freeman was given.
