Notre Dame defends Marcus Freeman after battery accusation emerges

Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman has been accused of battery stemming from an alleged altercation that occurred during a high school wrestling tournament in Mishawaka, Ind., on Saturday, Jan. 3. Notre Dame released a statement on Sunday calling the accusation “unfounded.”

A New Prairie High School assistant coach, identified by the South Bend Tribune as Chris Fleeger, filed a battery complaint against Freeman during the event, Mishawaka Police Sgt. Steven Headley confirmed to The Athletic. Police say the two men were apparently already acquainted.

Freeman was at the tournament supporting his son Vinny, a senior at Penn High School.

“There were some witnesses. I don’t think that it was anything super violent. Not like he hauled off and punched him or anything like that. I think they just kind of bumped into one another, or Marcus Freeman was, you know, allegedly bumped into this guy on purpose,” Headley said.

According to the Tribune, the incident took place after Vinny Freeman lost to Hanover Central’s Israel Sinnott at the tournament. As Marcus Freeman and Penn head coach Brad Harper moved with his son off the mat and out of the gym, Fleeger allegedly got into an exchange with the group, The Tribune reported, and there were claims of physical contact when Marcus Freeman walked through a doorway that led to a hall. Fleeger and Freeman’s wife, Joanna, then engaged in an argument that local police and school officials stepped in to separate.

Mishawaka police examined the incident and forwarded a report to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office to decide whether formal charges should be brought against Freeman, Sgt. Headley said. It has not yet been determined publicly how long the review will take or if charges will be filed.

Notre Dame released a statement addressing the allegations.

“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” the statement read. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone. We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are totally unfounded.”