Marcus Freeman has been the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for three years — will he be back for a fourth? According to a recent article, it’s a question worth asking.
Potential Replacement Candidates for Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero published a list of 22 young coaches to watch in the next NFL hiring cycle. One surprise addition: Freeman. Could it simply be a ploy by his agent to earn him a raise in South Bend? Possibly, but the 38-year-old head coach has certainly done enough to warrant a professional jump.
Since taking the head-coaching reigns from Brian Kelly, Freeman has led the Irish to a 28-9 record and the No. 6 spot in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings. Due to Notre Dame’s status as a private institution, Freeman’s contract, signed in 2021, is not public information, but it’s reportedly a six-year deal worth roughly $42 million.
NFL franchises would have no issue giving Freeman a raise, with former Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbguahn landing a pact worth $16 million annually with the Los Angeles Chargers just last offseason.
There are currently only two head coach openings in the league (New York Jets and New Orleans Saints), but there will be several more by the time the dust settles on the 2024 season. If Freeman does jump ship, which coaches make the most sense as replacements for the Irish?
Mike Denbrock or Al Golden, OC/DC, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame hired internally the last go-round, so why not again?
Mike Denbrock helped Jayden Daniels claim the Heisman and orchestrated the nation’s most explosive offense before returning to South Bend this offseason. Denbrock faced a major challenge with a reworked and inexperienced offensive line but has orchestrated an impressive rushing attack spear-headed by dual-threat QB Riley Leonard.
Denbrock has never been a collegiate head coach, but if he has any desire to become one, it’ll need to happen soon before he completely ages out.
Meanwhile, Al Golden hasn’t been a head coach since 2015, and at 55, he might prefer to remain a coordinator. That wouldn’t be such a negative, as his unit ranks No. 3 nationally in scoring (11.4 ppg) and No. 6 in total defense (277.1 ypg). Golden’s Miami tenure ended poorly, but they did make two bowl appearances.
Tommy Rees, Pass Game Specialist/TEs Coach, Cleveland Browns
Following Nick Saban’s retirement last year, Tommy Rees’ name appeared alongside Kalen DeBeor and Mike Norvell for Alabama’s head-coaching job. Of course, it ultimately went to DeBeor, causing Rees to leave the college ranks for the NFL.
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Rees boasts deep Notre Dame roots, serving as the program’s QB (2010-13), QBs coach (2017-19), and offensive coordinator (2020-22) over the last two decades. Although a reunion could make sense for both parties, ND fans were quite happy when Rees left the program for Alabama’s OC role in 2023.
Glenn Schumann, DC, Georgia Bulldogs
Glenn Schumann has quickly become a sought-after name, with his recent consideration for the Mississippi State Bulldogs’ head-coaching role only reinforcing his rise. As co-defensive coordinator at Georgia, Schumann has partnered with Will Muschamp to forge a powerhouse defense that anchored the Bulldogs to back-to-back national titles.
In 2023, his unit ranked No. 5 in scoring defense, No. 9 in total yards allowed, and led the nation in third-down stops. Even with fresh faces on the field, Schumann’s defense hasn’t missed a beat.
Tony White, DC, NC State Wolfpack
A five-year Power Five force, Tony White has led the turnarounds of the Syracuse Orange and the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ defenses. Last season, White’s unit frequently compensated for an offense prone to turnovers in Matt Rhule’s first year, showcasing his aggressive, attack-oriented style.
Though he’s yet to lead a college program, the 45-year-old could be a hot commodity in the next cycle and bring strong recruiting ties along the East Coast.
Matt Campbell, HC, Iowa State Cyclones
Matt Campbell has been linked to several Power Four and NFL positions over the years, but he’s remained in Ames, Iowa. Yet, maybe he’s just been waiting for the right opportunity. Perhaps a raise, the chance to lead a historic program, and working closer to home (Ohio) would be enough to draw him away from the Iowa State Cyclones.
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Prior to joining the Cyclones, Campbell spent his entire coaching career in his home state, serving as an assistant at Mount Union, Bowling Green, and Toledo before earning the Rockets’ HC job. In his nine seasons with Iowa State, the school has gone 61-50 and made six bowl games, with a seventh on the way.
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