Jan 11, 2026
3 min read
Notre Dame denied that Marcus Freeman had physical contact with anyone after the football coach was charged with battery in a police report filed Jan. 3.
Notre Dame denied that Marcus Freeman had physical contact with anyone after the football coach was charged with battery in a police report filed Jan. 3 following an incident at his son's high school wrestling match.
No charges are expected against Freeman, university sources said Sunday.
According to the South Bend Tribune, which first reported the news, the alleged incident involved Freeman and New Prairie High School assistant wrestling coach Chris Pfleger.Freeman and his family were at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational to support his son Vinny, who is headed to Cornell.
Flieger filed a police report last week accusing Freeman of battery.
"Vinny Freeman, the son of head coach Marcus Freeman, was abused by a local wrestling coach during and after his wrestling match," Notre Dame said in a statement released Sunday."Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the scene. Coach Freeman did not physically contact anyone. We believe the police report, along with the video evidence, strongly incriminates Coach Freeman and makes it clear that these allegations are completely baseless."
Mishawaka police spokesman Sgt.Steven Headley did not immediately respond to a request for comment.According to the South Bend Tribune, Mishawaka police are investigating and have sent their report to the district attorney's office to determine if charges will be filed.
According to the Tribune, the incident occurred after Vinny Freeman left the gym with his father and Penn High School coach Brad Harper.At that point, according to the newspaper, Flieger initiated an "exchange" with the team.
Once in the hallway, Fleeger and Freeman's wife, Joanna, yelled at each other before local law enforcement and Mishawaka school officials separated the two groups, according to the Tribune.
Freeman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
