Notre Dame typically does not disclose salary information for its coaches due to being a private university. However, according to a report by Matt Fortuna, it has been revealed that Marcus Freeman earned in excess of $6.5 million during his first year as head coach of the Fighting Irish in 2022. This figure was disclosed through federal tax documents.
Freeman assumed the head coaching position after Brian Kelly departed for LSU before the 2022 season. Prior to his promotion, Freeman served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Notre Dame.
In his first two seasons as head coach, Freeman led Notre Dame to records of 9-4 and 10-3, respectively.
Before his head coaching career, Freeman began as a graduate assistant at Ohio State and held coaching roles at Kent State, Purdue, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame.
With an annual salary surpassing $6.5 million, Freeman ranked among the top 20 highest-paid coaches for the 2023 season, according to the USA Today database, and likely in 2022 as well.
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Freeman expressed optimism about Notre Dame’s prospects, describing the roster as potentially one of the most talented during his tenure. He emphasized the importance of growth and development for both players and coaching staff to maximize the team’s potential.
Freeman addressed these aspirations during a press conference following the Blue-Gold Game on April 20th, reflecting on his growth as a head coach and his expectations for the upcoming season.
“Through experience, I hope to be a better head coach today than when I first started,” Freeman stated. “I believe this team has as much talent as any we’ve had here, which is crucial for making a serious run.”
Heading into the new season, Freeman highlighted the importance of coaching development and nurturing the team’s talent to achieve their collective goals.
“With new additions to our coaching staff, including a new offensive coordinator, our focus is on building and molding this talent to reach our full potential,” Freeman added. “It’s a collaborative effort between coaches and players to ensure we’re prepared to achieve our objectives come game time.”