Marcus Freeman was destined to be a head coach, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish provided him with a salary and contract that gave him that chance. After a tough start to his first season, Freeman appears to have things under control.
Today, we dive into his compensation for leading the Fighting Irish.
Marcus Freeman’s Salary and Contract in 2023
When Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for a 10-year, $95 million deal to become the head coach at LSU, the Fighting Irish needed to make a splash. Marcus Freeman was one of the hottest coaches in college football, thanks to his work as defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Notre Dame, and the Irish didn’t hesitate.
Since Notre Dame is a private institution, the details of Freeman’s contract remain unknown. When looking for a head coaching job, it was noted that he wanted a five-year deal — something he reportedly got from the Irish when he was hired.
While the monetary value of the contract is unknown, we do know that Freeman turned down a four-year deal that would have paid him $2.5 million a year to be LSU’s defensive coordinator back in 2021. So, it’s safe to say we know the yearly salary sits above that number.
In addition to a base salary, it’s safe to say Freeman has incentives for winning a certain number of games, making bowl game and playoff appearances, and for a certain amount of academic achievements. The numbers aren’t public information, but you can look at a number of other coaching contracts to get a general idea.
Freeman’s Net Worth
Freeman’s playing career was cut short due to an enlarged heart condition, but his passion for the game allowed him to get into coaching. His brief stint in the NFL led to a return to Columbus, Ohio as a graduate assistant.
Since then, Marcus Freeman coached at various different places, with every contract and salary coming from a team in the Midwest. He worked his way up the ranks from graduate assistant to linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.
At Cincinnati, he produced some of the best defenses in college football and even helped the Bearcats make a College Football Playoff appearance in 2021. He also turned Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner into a first-round draft pick.
With the Bearcats, Marcus Freeman earned a salary of $600,000 — the latest reported number found — before eventually finding his way to South Bend. Now as the head coach of the Irish, he continues making his mark on the defensive side of the football while also learning the other side of the ball.
Notre Dame went 9-4 in his first year as a head coach, and he also signed the eighth-best recruiting class for 2024.